Officials announce a probable hepatitis A exposure alert at the Northeast Philadelphia ShopRite

 

 

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is looking into a confirmed outbreak of Hepatitis A virus in an employee at a ShopRite in Northeast Philadelphia.

Officials stated that the individual worked while afflicted at the ShopRite at 6301 Oxford St.

The Health Department recommends that anybody who handled raw beef or pig or ate undercooked beef or pork purchased from the store’s meat counter between January 4 and January 21 get vaccinated against Hepatitis A as soon as possible.
If you have already had two doses of Hepatitis A vaccination or have had Hepatitis A in the past, health officials say you do not need to be vaccinated.

Hepatitis A – Symptoms and causes

According to health officials, no new illnesses have been detected, and no other stores are affected.

Officials recommend that beef or pork purchased and frozen within the aforementioned timeframes be thrown as a precaution. Furthermore, boiling meals and beverages to 185°F (85°C) for at least 1 minute can eliminate the virus. Freezing temperatures do not destroy the virus.

The Health Department will provide free Hepatitis A vaccines on Saturday, January 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at a district health facility at 2230 Cottman Ave. To get a Hepatitis A vaccine, contact your doctor or go to the pharmacy.

If you acquire Hepatitis A symptoms, the Health Department advises you to consult your doctor right once.
If you want assistance, please call the Health Department at 215-685-5488, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver. It can spread when a person with Hepatitis A does not fully wash their hands after using the restroom before preparing food.

A person infected with the Hepatitis A virus can transmit the virus to others for two weeks before experiencing signs of liver illness and for one week after these symptoms begin.