A Waffle House employee who recently tested positive for hepatitis A may have exposed patrons to the virus.
Health officials reportedly learned of the employee’s positive test result on September 16, 2019. The Waffle House in question is located at 120 S. Goose Creek Blvd. Goose Creek, SC. The Waffle House temporarily closed due to the situation.
Mecklenburg County, NC had an Hepatitis A outbreak in August 2019.
Customers who ate at the mentioned Waffle House between Aug. 24 and Sept. 13, 2019, might have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. An infected person can spread the virus up to two weeks before they know they are sick.
Health officials are working with Waffle House to investigate possible exposures and provide guidance for preventive treatment. Certain individuals are at greater risk for severe hepatitis A infection and are encouraged to seek vaccination. Those individuals include anyone with a weakened immune system, liver disease (such as hepatitis B or C) or anyone who abuses injection or non-injection drugs.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Patients, who typically fall ill two to six weeks after exposure, may experience abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice. Although most people recover within two months, the disease can cause liver failure and death.
