CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three more food service workers have been diagnosed with hepatitis A in Kanawha and Putnam counties, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department confirmed Thursday.
Employees of the American Inn in Hurricane, Buck’s Pizza in Nitro and McDonald’s in Hurricane have been confirmed as having the disease, marking six cases of hepatitis A involving food service personnel this year.
Employees of the Cold Spot in Nitro, Taco Bell in Belle and O’Charley’s at the Shops at Trace Fork were diagnosed earlier this month.
Hepatitis A is spread through human contact and is prominent in homeless communities as well as areas where drug use is prominent. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin and eyes, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
Health department public information officer John Law said people should not be overly concerned about getting hepatitis A while eating at restaurants and other eateries.
“At these food service establishments and the other food service establishments, they hadn’t really done anything that caused this,” he said. “They just had workers who came to work sick with hepatitis A, like if you come to sick to work with the cold.”
Law added environmental health officials have determined there is no need for patrons of any affected restaurant to seek being vaccinated for hepatitis A.
“The food service workers in the Kanawha Valley are by in large very good at what they do. They wear gloves and they wash their hands frequently,” he said.
Family members and workers at the establishments did receive hepatitis A immunizations after the diagnoses were announced.
There have been more than 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Kanawha and Putnam counties this year.
“We have not seen the peak,” Law said.
According to Law, a vaccination event being planned for May 30 at the Charleston Civic Center for food service employees. Details about the event will be released at a later date.