MIAMI COUNTY, IN- Miami County Health Officials have confirmed a case of Hepatitis A in a local food worker and have determined in conjunction with Indiana State Dept of Health that the risk of infection is very low for patrons who ate food from the establishment earlier this month. The food establishment is working with us to prevent any new cases from arising in the community, at this time there are no other related suspected Hepatitis A cases.
The Miami County Health Dept is being assisted by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). The Establishment voluntarily closed for a deep cleaning and other employees are being given Hepatitis A vaccine.
Indiana is one of several states experiencing a Hepatitis A outbreak, so all residents are urged to consult their healthcare providers and pharmacies for a Hepatitis A vaccine as preventive care. Careful hand-washing with soap and running water is also recommended, especially before preparing food.
As of December 27, 2019- the state health department has confirmed 2,269 outbreak-related cases in Indiana, which typically sees about 20 cases in a 12-month period. None of the outbreak cases have been caused by an infected food worker.
Indiana law has required a Hepatitis A vaccine for school admission since 2014, and the vaccine was required for students entering 6th grade and 12th grade in 2018, so many students have already been vaccinated.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted person-to-person through fecal-oral routes or by consuming contaminated food or water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies those most at risk during this outbreak as people who use illicit drugs, homeless, men who have sex with men and those incarcerated. Indiana health officials have been working to educate the public, restaurants, jails, groups that serve the homeless populations and those who use illicit drugs about the outbreak and ways to prevent the disease. ISDH provides outbreak updates and information on where to get vaccinated on its website hepAfacts@isdh.in.gov .
Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of Hepatitis A should contact a healthcare provider immediately and refrain from preparing food for others. Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice, which usually appear within two months of infection. Individuals can become ill 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus. A doctor can determine if someone has Hepatitis A with a blood test.