BATAVIA, Ohio -- An employee at a Clermont County grocery store and deli was diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to officials with Clermont County Public Health.
The employee works at the Felicity IGA at 412 Light St. The store also operates a deli. The health department says the risk to customers is “extremely low” but anyone who has eaten at the deli from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13 should be monitored for symptoms of the virus for 50 days.
Hepatitis A affects the liver and can be spread by eating or drinking contaminated food, according to health officials. Symptoms of the virus include the following:
- Fatigue
- Low appetite
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Clay-colored stools
- Jaundice (yellowish color to the skin and eyes)
Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit said grocery store management has been cooperative, and store employees demonstrated proper knowledge of food handling techniques, hand washing and glove use during its most recent inspections.
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A vaccine can protect people from hepatitis A within two weeks of coming into contact with the virus. Clermont County Public Health will be offering free hepatitis A vaccines on Friday, Nov. 16, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m at the Felicity Fire Department, located at 718 Market Street.
There have been 17 cases of hepatitis A in Clermont County since the Ohio Department of Health declared a statewide outbreak in June. The health department reports 865 cases in the state.
