Health officials warn of Hepatitis A exposure at 2 Upstate Hardee’s
State health officials alerted customers of two Spartanburg County Hardee’s restaurants that they could have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus and quick treatment is needed “to prevent the virus from developing into a hepatitis infection.”
The two restaurants in question are located at 12209 Greenville Highway in Lyman and 1397 E. Main Street in Duncan.
Customers and staff who ate food or drink at the Lyman restaurant between Aug. 31 and Sept. 15 and at the Duncan location between Sept. 1 and Sept. 13 are at risk of hepatitis A infection, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said in a release Friday.
The hepatitis A virus is highly contagious. Is is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, through contact with food or drink contaminated by fecal matter from an infected person. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months, the CDC says.
Treatment to prevent infection is most effective if administered within two weeks of exposure, DHEC said.
As a result, customers or staff exposed between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 aren’t likely to benefit from post-exposure treatment, health officials said. These people should be alert for symptoms of infection such as nausea, vomiting and jaundice (yellowing of the skins and/or whites of the eyes) and seek medical treatment if such symptoms develop.
Customers or staff exposed between Sept. 4 and Sept. 15 should get post-exposure treatment and are encouraged to go to the health department for that treatment.
If you have a question or concern about possible exposure, please call DHEC at 1-800-868-0404. Operators are available Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Where to go
Spartanburg County Health Department
When: Sept. 19, Sept. 20, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Sept. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 151 E. Wood St., Spartanburg
Greenville Health Department
When: Sept. 19, Sept. 20, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Sept. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 200 University Ridge in Greenville.
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Health officials warn of Hepatitis A exposure at 2 Upstate Hardee’s."