Shoppers who sampled food at Ace Hardware in Rome on two recent Saturdays, June 1 and June 8, might have been exposed to hepatitis A, the Oneida County Health Department warned.
A person with hepatitis A who was infectious at the time prepared and cooked food during a cooking demonstration in the store, putting those who ate the food at risk for infection, according to the health department.
Those who sampled the food on June 8 should get a hepatitis vaccine by Saturday, June 22.
“Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease,” Director of Health Daniel W. Gilmore said in a statement. “If you’ve been exposed and not yet vaccinated, please do so to protect yourself.”
But the two-week window for the effectiveness of preventive treatment has already passed for anyone who sampled the food on June 1.
Those who ate some food in the store on June 8 can arrange a hepatitis A vaccine through their primary care doctor or through the health department. The department is holding a hepatitis A vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. on Friday, June 21.
To schedule an appointment at the clinic, go to Important Notices on the ocgov.net website or call 315-798-5747 and then press 2. The office will be closed for Juneteenth on June 19. Leave a message with your name, phone number, date of birth and date of exposure.
Ace Hardware has been notified of the situation is cooperating with the health department, department officials said.
Those who may have been exposed to the virus on June 1 should monitor themselves for symptoms, which may include yellow skin or eyes; lack of appetite; upset stomach; stomach pain; vomiting; fever; dark urine or light-colored stools; joint pain; diarrhea; and fatigue.
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Symptoms appear anywhere from 15 to 50 days after exposure, but 28 days is most common.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through food, drinks or utensils that have been handled by an infected person. It does not spread through casual contact such as sitting together.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida Co. Health: Rome Ace Hardware patrons at risk for hepatitis A
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