Hepatitis A Report at California Grocery Store Sparks Dire Warning

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) is investigating after an employee at a Whole Foods Market in Beverly Hills tested positive for hepatitis A.

Health officials are recommending that customers who purchased seafood products at the counter where the employee worked receive a vaccine for hepatitis A if they are not already immune. The warning is for any customer who purchased products at the seafood counter from April 20 to May 13.

“People who have not received the hepatitis A vaccine or had a previous hepatitis A infection may not be protected from the virus,” read a release from the health department. “Receiving vaccination as soon as possible after exposure could help reduce the risk of developing hepatitis A infection.”

The Whole Foods in question is at 239 North Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills, California. No additional cases of hepatitis A have been reported, but an investigation is ongoing, DPH said.

According to officials, hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection triggered by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms can include fatigue and sudden weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, clay or gray-colored stool, dark urine or the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. DPH said in its release that mild illnesses can last a few weeks, while more severe cases last several months. In rare cases, hepatitis A can also lead to death.

“Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person,” the release read.

While there is no specific antiviral treatment for hepatitis A, officials said that a “prompt vaccination is likely to prevent infection” in patients. Older adults and others with weakened immune systems may also benefit from receiving immune globulin in addition to a vaccine.

“While prompt vaccination is likely to prevent infection, infection may occur in those who receive vaccination too late,” officials added. “Patrons who develop symptoms should call their provider and ask for a hepatitis A test.”

Newsweek reached out to DPH for additional information via email late Friday night.

Health officials earlier this week reported an outbreak of hepatitis A among the homeless population in Los Angeles County. According to a Monday release from the department, officials detected the first case of hepatitis A in mid-March. At the time of the release, the virus had infected at least five other people.