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Officials from the Nassau County Health Department warned the public Friday of a confirmed case of hepatitis A at a food attendant who was working at 7-Eleven at 1555 Jerusalem Ave. in Merrick.
Anyone who used the toilet, ate or drank anything that had been prepared at the convenience store between February 1 and March 6 could have been exposed, officials said.
Anyone who may have been exposed between February 24 and March 6 should be vaccinated or given immunoglobulin, said Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein. People who may have been exposed earlier should look for symptoms and consult their doctor for potential exposure. Anyone who has been vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine or who has already had the disease is protected and does not have to worry.
The County will offer free vaccines and immunoglobulins to anyone exposed on Sunday at Nassau Community College's CCB (1 Education Drive, Garden City) from noon to 4 pm; and Monday at the County Health Department (200 Seat County Drive, Mineola) from 1 pm to 6 pm.
A call center has been set up for anyone who needs additional information. Call (516) 227-9570.
The hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through the consumption of food or drink handled by an infected person. It can also be passed from one person to the other by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated by the stool of someone infected with the virus.
The symptoms of hepatitis A can range from mild to severe and include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). The disease is rarely fatal and most people recover within a few weeks without complications. Symptoms usually appear within 28 days of exposure, in a range of 15 to 50 days. There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person as soon as the symptoms appear. As a general rule, bed rest is all that is needed. Proper hand washing after using the bathroom and before, during and after food preparation is the most important way to prevent the spread of this disease and other intestinal diseases. Sharing food and utensils should be discouraged, especially when someone is sick.
More information on hepatitis A is available on the website of the New York State Department of Health: https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1859/index. htm
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