A Florida Taco Bell employee is HIV-positive for hepatitis A, employees had to be vaccinated

The county also reported that the employee had worked at Taco Bell of Tarpon Spring during its infectious period April 12-14.

On April 17, the agency went to the Hotel and Restaurant Division to conduct a joint investigation and a food safety inspection.

When the inspectors arrived that day, the state found that the employees did not wash their hands.

According to the inspection report, the state also discovered that there was no hot water in the sink for hand washing in the chambers of the men and women and that the soap dispenser was not working in the men's room.

As health officials have warned, hepatitis A spreads when infected people do not wash their hands properly and contaminate the food or surfaces they touch.

If you think you have been exposed to hepatitis A, medical experts recommend that you get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The County of Pinellas Health Department offers free vaccines to anyone who wants one, but the agency has never informed the public of the infected worker at Taco Bell.

Taco Bell Corporation released the following statement after WFTS had learned that an employee had tested positive for hepatitis A.

"As soon as the operator of this Tarpon Springs, Florida, site learned from the Pinellas County Health Department that one of the team members had been diagnosed, the franchisee started to work closely with Taco Bell and health officials. The restaurant was immediately cleaned thoroughly and all members of the team were vaccinated. The safety of our customers and members of our team is our top priority. we take it very seriously. "

For more information on hepatitis A and federal government guidelines, visit:

www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/index.htm.