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Long Island 7-Eleven worker has hepatitis A; patrons warned

Published  March 8, 2019 10:07pm EST
Long Island
FOX 5 New York

MERRICK, N.Y. (FOX 5 NY) - A worker who handled and prepared food at a 7-Eleven store on Long Island has viral hepatitis, according to Nassau County officials.

If you bought food and drinks or used the toilet at the store located at 1555 Jerusalem Avenue in Merrick between Feb. 1 and March 6, 2019, you may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, which can cause liver disease.

Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, fatigue, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, diarrhea, clay-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice, according to the CDC.

"Hepatitis A virus may be spread by consuming food or drink that has been handled by an infected person," according to a statement from county officials. "It may also be spread from person to person by placing something into the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A."

If you believe you may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus at this 7-Eleven between Feb. 24 and March 6, officials urge you to get the hepatitis A vaccination and/or immune globulin. If you think you have been exposed between Feb. 1 and Feb. 23, then you should monitor yourself for symptoms and consider calling your doctor.

The county will be offering free vaccinations and immune globulin for people exposed between Feb. 24 and March 6 at these times:

  • Sunday, March 10, 12–4 p.m., Nassau Community College CCB Building, 1 Education Drive, Garden City, NY 11530
  • Monday, March 11, 1–6 p.m., Nassau County Department of Health, 200 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501