FLOYDS KNOBS, Ind. (WAVE) - Health officials in Floyd County say a case of Hepatitis A has been confirmed in a food service employee.
The Floyd County Health Department says the person works at the Taco Bell located at 900 Lafollette Center in Floyds Knobs. That restaurant is about a mile north of Interstate 64 on U.S. 150.
Anyone who has eaten at the restaurant between April 1 and April 18 should get the Hepatitis A vaccine before April 30 to reduce the chance of infection.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver and is highly contagious. According to the Floyd County Health Department, people become infected through contact with:
- Shared syringes used to inject drugs
- Foods prepared or served by infected persons
- Stool or blood of infected persons
- Inanimate objects that may have trace amounts of fecal material from hand contact.
The symptoms, which can vary greatly from severe to none at all, may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Stomach ache
- Dark (cola) colored urine
- Light colored stools.
Jaundice, the yellowing of the eyes or skin, may appear a few days after the onset of symptoms.
Persons can become ill 15-50 days after being exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. Most people feel sick for several weeks, but they usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage.