2 new hepatitis A cases added to outbreak’s tally

The state Department of Health has confirmed hepatitis A has sickened another food service worker on Oahu.

The infected employee of the McDonald’s on Kilauea Avenue in Kahala worked on Sept. 20-21, 23-24, and 27-29; and Oct. 1, 4-5, 7, and 11, health officials said Wednesday in a news release.

The case is one of two more of the contagious virus reported by the Health Department this week, increasing the total number of people diagnosed to 291. The onset of illness has ranged between June 12 and Oct. 9. For 73 people, their illness required hospitalization.

In August, officials confirmed the source of the hepatitis A outbreak was contaminated frozen scallops imported from the Philippines by Sea Port Products Corp. They were served raw at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai. The Health Department halted all sales and distribution of the product statewide and ordered Genki restaurants to shut down. They reopened three weeks later after the restaurants were thoroughly sanitized and all employees were medically screened and cleared.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said the McDonald’s worker case “was identified and reported to us later in their illness but had their symptom onset within the 50-day maximum incubation period from the date the scallops were embargoed.”

“The department will continue to investigate all reported cases of hepatitis A and remain alert for other late-presenting cases as well as secondary cases,” she said.

There have only been a few secondary cases limited to household members or close contacts.

Jonathan Hilts, public health educator and spokesman of the Disease Outbreak Control Division, said the chance of customers getting hepatitis A from an infected food service worker is low. None of Genki’s employees was afflicted with the disease.

Hepatitis A is spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with the virus found in traces of human feces. The disease also can spread through close personal contact.

The Health Department encourages people to consider getting vaccinated and to thoroughly wash their hands, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing foods. A statewide list of vaccinating pharmacies is available at 808ne.ws/vaccinationslist; or, call the Aloha United Way information line at 211.