Snohomish County Taco Bell employee confirmed to have case of hepatitis A
EVERETT, Wash. — A Snohomish County Taco Bell employee was recently confirmed to have a case of hepatitis A.
The case was confirmed by the Snohomish County Health Department (SCHD). The SCHD also noted that the employee worked at two separate locations, which are 2727 Broadway in Everett and 303 91st Ave NE in Lake Stevens.
The infected employee was likely infected during international travel, according to the SCHD.
SCHD encourages anyone who ate food from the Everett location on May 22-23 or the Lake Stevens location on May 23 to take the following actions:
- Check if you are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A.
- If you are not vaccinated or immune, contact your healthcare provider or contact the Snohomish County Health Department at 425-339-3503 (then press 1) for guidance and potential post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent illness.
- Monitor for any symptoms of illness, which include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dark urine.
If you develop any of the below symptoms, SCHD encourages you to be thorough with your handwashing after using the bathroom or while handling any kind of food:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin)
The hepatitis A virus lives in the feces or blood of someone who is infected and typically spreads through fecal contamination, according to the SCHD. The virus may be spread from person to person through close contact or the handling of food.
For more information on the virus, visit this website.
