Overall health officials in Snohomish County, WA, are warning folks who ate at two Taco Bell places to monitor themselves for indicators of hepatitis A infections and get vaccinated if they are not currently.

“People who ate meals from the Taco Bell at 2727 Broadway on Might 22-23 or the Taco Inform at 303 91st Avenue NE in Lake Stevens on Might 23 ought to make contact with their healthcare provider or public overall health,” according to the warning from the Snohomish County Overall health Division.

An employee who worked at each places has tested constructive for hepatitis A. The confirmed case seems to have been infected through international travel. The Snohomish County Overall health Division is operating with the business enterprise to determine other workers who had been potentially exposed and connect them with prevention info as nicely as sources for vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, as necessary.

For two weeks soon after exposure a vaccination is successful from maintaining the liver virus from creating. Consequently it is critical for any person who ate at the restaurants on the exposure dates to verify their vaccination records. 

The ealth division notice says that folks who are not vaccinated, immune, or are unsure of their status ought to make contact with their healthcare provider or make contact with the Snohomish County Overall health Division at 425-339-3503 (then press 1) for guidance and possible post-exposure prophylaxis to avert illness. 

Post-exposure prophylaxis entails getting the hep A vaccine or immune globulin (IG), which can supply instant and lasting protection when offered inside two weeks of exposure to the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A vaccine is offered from a number of healthcare providers or pharmacies in the county. Any person who was exposed and is getting problems discovering a vaccine provider, or who is uninsured or underinsured, ought to make contact with the Overall health Division. 

Men and women who had been exposed ought to monitor themselves for any symptoms of illness. Remain residence and do not prepare or serve meals for other folks if you have symptoms. It requires involving 15 and 50 days to come to be symptomatic soon after becoming exposed. Early indicators of hepatitis A consist of:

• fever
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin)
• If you create any of these symptoms, be specifically thorough in handwashing soon after working with the restroom and prior to preparing or handling meals to stay clear of potentially spreading the illness additional. Wash hands with soap and operating water. Be confident to lather and scrub all surfaces such as backs of the hands, wrists, involving fingers, and beneath fingernails. 

About hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus lives in the fecesa or blood of a person who is infected and usually spreads via fecal contamination. The virus may well be spread from particular person to particular person via close make contact with or via meals handling. Constant, thorough handwashing is critical to avert spread via meals handling. 

The illness varies in severity, with mild situations lasting two weeks or much less. Far more serious situations can final six weeks or longer. Some folks, specifically young children, may well not create jaundice and may well have an illness so mild that it can go unnoticed. Having said that, even mildly ill folks can nevertheless be very infectious. Any person with symptoms of hepatitis A and possible exposure who is not vaccinated or immune ought to seek advice from a healthcare provider ideal away even if symptoms are mild.