Hepatitis reported in NEA

WALNUT RIDGE- Health officials have diagnosed a food service worker at a Lawrence County convenience store with hepatitis A, making it the 11th reported infection in northeast Arkansas.

The employee worked at Doublebee's, an Exxon gasoline station and convenience store at 1003 U.S. 63 just south of Walnut Ridge. Arkansas Department of Health officials said Tuesday that anyone who ate at the store between April 7 and April 18 should seek immediate care if he or she has never been vaccinated against hepatitis A.

The Lawrence County Local Health Unit will hold a walk-in clinic from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today to offer vaccinations, said health department spokesman Meg Mirivel. The unit is located at 1050 W. Free St. in Walnut Ridge.

Of the 11 people infected with the contagious liver disease in the northeast corner of the state, five have been employed with food vendors. Two others in southwest Arkansas have also been infected, but health officials said they are not related to the infections in Corning and Lawrence County.

Last week, the health department reported that an employee of the Subway and Flash Market in Corning had been infected and urged anyone who ate there between March 30 and April 17 to seek vaccinations.

In February, a worker at a Corning Taco Bell was also diagnosed with the disease, prompting a warning from the state Health Department. Another food worker was not working when diagnosed.

State epidemiologist Dirk Haselow said the Health Department is considering the rash of infections an "outbreak."

"Arkansas averages less than 10 cases of hepatitis A a year," he said. "Of the 13 who were infected, five were food workers. That is a sure way to spread [the disease] quickly."

Last year, seven Arkansans were infected.

Other states have also seen hepatitis A outbreaks. Michigan has reported more than 800 cases since August 2016 with 25 deaths. A Kentucky outbreak has infected more than 300 people.

In Butler County, Mo., which borders Clay County, 97 people have been infected, Haselow said.

"We looked at the genetic sequence of the Missouri infections and compared them with northeast Arkansas," he said. "They are related to both. We don't know where they came from."

The hepatitis A virus can cause illness two to seven weeks after contact. Most of those infected begin showing signs of the disease within three weeks, Haselow said.

Symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, joint aches and pains and jaundice. A person can transmit the virus to others up to two weeks before and one week after the symptoms appear.

About a third of those infected are hospitalized, Haselow said.

An employee contacted at Doublebee's Tuesday evening said she was not allowed to comment about the infection. She said the store will remain open 24 hours a day.

Bonita Hoss, a worker at Cross Roads Antiques which is next to the Doublebee's on U.S. 63, said she often eats at the convenience store.

"I don't know exactly when I ate there, but I am going to get the vaccination," she said. "Better safe than sorry."