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LFCHD Explains Importance Of Identifying Restaurants With Hep A Cases

Posted at 2:42 PM, Dec 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-21 14:51:51-05

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) -The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department wants residents to understand the importance of identifying restaurants where hepatitis A cases are reported.

Less than 5% of Lexington’s total cases have involved a person in the restaurant industry, but the department says it’s still vital to inform patrons of when a case is reported.

“Health departments provide public health messaging to alert diners of potential exposure. Since restaurants have several customers a day and no record of everyone who ate there, customers are advised how to potentially avoid getting sick after a possible exposure by getting a hepatitis A vaccination,” explains Communications Officer Kevin Hall.

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 disease can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person. In the current outbreak, hepatitis A is primarily being spread person-to-person through poor personal hygiene.