In mid-May 2018, the county health department reported hepatitis A in more food service workers in Kanawha and Putnam counties. By then the department was looking into more than 80 cases of acute hepatitis A in the two counties.
News reports on May 17 listed workers at a McDonald’s in Putnam County, the American Inn in Hurricane and Buck’s Pizza in Nitro. The McDonald’s worker could have spread the virus from April 25 to May 12. Earlier cases had involved workers at the Cold Spot in Nitro, the Taco Bell in Belle and the O’Charley’s in South Charleston.
At each business, family members and coworkers got the hepatitis A vaccine as a precaution. The state health officer had a state epidemiologist work on site at the health department to help with the investigation and send daily updates. The state also sent a health advisory to doctors and labs on testing and treatment.
State officials said most people with the illness had a history of drug use, and that the average person did not need the vaccine. Frequent hand washing was the main advice for everyone.
Sources
- WSET: Food service workers diagnosed with Hepatitis A in West Va. outbreak (May 17, 2018)
- WQBE: Two more food service workers diagnosed with Hepatitis A (May 2018)
- WV MetroNews: Most Hepatitis A cases in WV have history of drug use (May 16, 2018)
- WTAP/WSAZ: Taco Bell releases statement on Kanawha Co. worker with Hepatitis A (May 9, 2018)