Cincinnati Area Confirms Another Hepatitis A Case

Clermont County Public Health has identified a case of hepatitis A in an employee who worked at the Taco Bell restaurant, located at 889 S.R. 28 in Miami Township, Ohio.

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water.

As a precaution, Clermont County Public Health is asking anyone who has eaten at this Taco Bell restaurant from August 15-17 to monitor for symptoms of the virus for up to 50 days.

"As soon as the operator of the Miami Township, Ohio Taco Bell location learned that a team member tested positive for the Hepatitis A virus, the franchisee began working immediately with Taco Bell and local health officials. The team member in question is on leave and won’t return to work until cleared by medical professionals," said Taco Bell.

"All team members currently working at this restaurant will be offered vaccinations and the restaurant will be thoroughly sanitized. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our team members and our customers is our highest priority, which is why we are taking this matter so seriously," Taco Bell explained.

"The restaurant management has been very cooperative and we are working with them to review safe food handling techniques," Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit said in a press release.

At this time, this hepatitis A case is unrelated to previous Cincinnati area cases:

• July 15th - Northern Kentucky 
• July 19th - Cincinnati
• August 2nd - Cincinnati jail inmates

Additionally, as of August 20, 2018, the Ohio Department of Health has reported: 

• Number of hepatitis A cases:  256
• Gender:  60% male
• Number of hospitalizations:  162 (63%)
• Number of OH counties with cases:  37 (42%)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). 

Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection. 

Antibodies produced in response to hepatitis A infection last for life and protect against reinfection.

Previous hepatitis A reports at Taco Bell restaurants in the midwest states include, but not limited to, the following news reports:

• Charleston, WV
• Corning, AR
• Floyds Knobs, IN
• Napoleon, OH

“Scenarios like these are becoming more and more common.  Don’t assume that it can’t happen where you live,” said Chris Felton, PharmD Clinical Pharmacist, MTM and Immunization Specialist, Brookshire Grocery Company.

“Take the time to ensure that you are protected from all vaccine-preventable diseases.  Talk to your pharmacist or doctor and get up to date on all recommended immunizations,” Felton continued.

In addition to getting a vaccine, the best way to protect yourself from hepatitis A is to wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating.

The hepatitis A vaccine is given in two doses, six months apart. Most pharmacies in the USA offer hepatitis vaccines.

To request a vaccination appointment, please visit this page.

The CDC Vaccine Price List displays current HAV vaccine contract prices and general information.  

And, vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.