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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
A new case of hepatitis A has been confirmed in an employee at Zippy’s in Kapolei.
A new case of hepatitis A has been confirmed in an employee at a Zippy’s in Kapolei.
The state Department of Health said today the latest hepatitis A victim worked at the Zippy’s located in Kapolei at 950 Kamokila Boulevard. The employee worked evenings and nights at the sit-down dining section and bakery of the restaurant (and did not work at the fast-food window) on Aug. 14, 18–19, 21, 23, and 25–26, 2016, according to officials.
“This case is a reminder that even though contaminated scallops have been removed from the market, the long hepatitis A incubation period means we must continue to remain vigilant for new cases,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “DOH will continue to work with the public and businesses to prevent further illness.”
An outbreak of hepatitis A on Oahu has sickened more than 241 people.
The likelihood that customers of the business will become infected is very low, according to the department. Most people do not get sick when an employee at a restaurant has Hepatitis A. However, if an infected food handler is infectious and has poor hygiene, the risk goes up for patrons of that restaurant.
Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, diarrhea, and yellow skin and eyes.
While vaccination provides the best protection, frequent handwashing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing food can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A. Appropriately cooking foods can also help prevent infection, according to the health department.
Additional information about hepatitis A is provided on the DOH website at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/hepatitis-a-outbreak-2016/.
Unvaccinated individuals should contact their healthcare providers about the possibility of receiving hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin, which may provide some protection against the disease if administered within the first two weeks after exposure.
For a list of vaccinating pharmacies, visithttp://health.hawaii.gov/docd/files/2013/07/IMM_Adult_Resource_List.pdf or call the Aloha United Way information and referral line at 2-1-1.
Once again, DOH has failed to do its job. Vaccinations should have been required for restaurant workers a long time ago. Oh, I know restaurants didn’t want to pay for it. Now, they should be liable for all new cases.
Drip, Drip, Drip, the HepA count continues to inch upward. Wonder if Dr Sarah Park of the DOH has anything new to say except, “DOH will continue to work with the public and business’s to prevent further illness”. I do not know what this rather vague statement she always makes means, do you??
In my opinion, DOH contines to be reactive rather than proactive. Time they required all food servers/restaurant workers to be
vaccinated for starters. There is not going to be any way to stop this disease from becoming endemic in the general population, like it is in the third world now that the vectors are person to person.
gross
What’s gross?
Don’t eat anything that isn’t cooked. NO SALAD.
All restaurant workers should be vaccinated. Period. And hospital medical folks too.
Did the Zippy’s worker eat the tainted scallops or was in close contact with someone who did to get infected? Or from a secondary infected area? Why is this not disclosed? This would help the public to know the real risk of getting exposed and contracting the disease.
The State has failed the community.All restaurant workers should be vaccinated.
I still find it funny that of the 400 or so workers at Genki Sushi (alleged source of the epidemic), NONE of them got sick. Does this mean that none of them ate the scallops? No “cross-contamination” to other foods prepared in the same kitchen? Maybe none of them eat the food they’re serving/preparing? Kinda makes me wonder about the Genki food in general.
Though it probably is the safest restaurant to eat at here in Hawaii at the current time, it will be quite a while before I eat there again.
Safest restaurant? I doubt it.
Maybe Genki employees all refuse to eat the food that they serve. They knew something that the public did not know?
Could be workers are not allowed to eat while working and yet maybe some may have developed an immunity. But numbers of workers not contracting is suspect for sure to what you are alluding?
The Genki Sushi at Pearlridge Center is very safe because it is still closed.
0.025% of Oahu’s population