Hepatitis A has an eye on Olive Garden

According to the Gloucester County Health Department a food handler at an Olive Garden restaurant in Gloucester County tested positive for Hepatitis A.

The employee at the Olive Garden at 1500 Almonesson Road in Deptford worked while infected between Dec. 26 and 30, according to the announcement.

Hepatitis A is a viral illness with symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, poor appetite, jaundice and dark urine, county officials advised. Symptoms usually appear within two to seven weeks after exposure.

Anyone who previously received a Hepatitis A vaccine is not at risk, the county said. Those who are unvaccinated face a low risk, but the risk may be lowered further by getting vaccinated within two weeks of exposure, officials said.

Those who are unvaccinated and believe they may have been exposed are encouraged to contact their health care provider.

The county is working with the restaurant to vaccinate potentially exposed co-workers, officials said.

“Gloucester County Department of Health is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health and the restaurant facility to protect the public and prevent further spread of disease,” officials stated.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.