Derby Lane Responds To Report Of Food Worker With Hep A

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has identified a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker at the Derby Club at Derby Lane, 10490 Gandy Blvd. N., St. Petersburg.

The DOH said the food worker may be infectious and advises anyone who ate or drank at the Derby Club between Monday, Sept. 16 and Wednesday, Sept. 18 to get a hepatitis A vaccine.

Those who consumed food or beverages at the Derby Club between Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 5, should watch for symptoms of a hepatitis A infection including the sudden onset of abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, fever, diarrhea, pale white stools or yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). Anyone experiencing these symptoms should promptly seek medical attention.

Those who previously received the hepatitis A vaccine or have had a hepatitis A infection are considered immune and do not need to take additional action.

Derby Lane provided a statement in response to the DOH announcement:

On September 23rd, management learned of a potential exposure to hepatitis A at Derby Lane from one employee who was diagnosed on Sunday, September 22nd. That employee was treated and could not return to work until they were cleared by the Florida Department of Health.

Derby Lane was considered a low-level risk; however, we took this potential exposure very seriously and worked closely with the Health Department during their investigation.

Derby Lane expects that all employees maintain the highest standards in hygiene, food safety, and on- site cleanliness and will continue to diligently monitor our staff to ensure proper protocol is being followed.

Vaccinations have been administered to Food and Beverage employees, and have been made available to all Derby Lane employees. We also encourage our customers who dined with us in the Derby Club Restaurant Circa 1925 from September 7th thru September 18th get vaccinated as well. The vaccination is readily available at pharmacies in the Tampa Bay area, as well as at your local Health Department.

Those with specific questions about exposure to hepatitis A at Derby Club at Derby Lane can call (727) 824-6932.

Following a declaration of a statewide emergency, the Florida Department of Health is continuing to encourage all healthcare providers, including hospital emergency departments to stay on high alert and immediately report cases of hepatitis A to the DOH.

On Aug. 1, State Surgeon General Dr. Scott A Rivkees declared a public health emergency after 2,600 cases of hepatitis A were reported in Florida since January 2018.

In the month since the declaration, that number has risen to 3,223 cases, more than double the number of cases reported in 2016-17. Sixty-five cases were reported just last week.

By comparison, the total number of cases in 2017 was 276 and the total in 2018 was 548.

Since Jan. 1, 2018, 2,071 people have been hospitalized with hepatitis A and 39 people have died.

The greatest concentration of cases is in the Tampa Bay area. Pasco County has had 394 cases, Pinellas County 368 cases and Hillsborough County 144 cases.

The next highest concentration of cases is Volusia County with 242.

Several counties have so far avoided the epidemic. Bradford, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, Highlands, Holmes, Jefferson and Lafayette counties have no reported cases.

Dixie, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardee, Liberty, Madison, Monroe, Union and Washington counties have each reported one case.

Hepatitis A spreads through the feces of infected people but can be prevented through a vaccine.

The majority of cases of hepatitis A in Florida have been found in homeless people and intravenous drug users. Less than 5 percent of cases have been identified among food workers and there have been no reports of anyone contracting hepatitis A from exposure at a restaurant.

The Departments of Health in all counties offer the hepatitis A vaccine. Some high-risk areas are offering vaccines free of charge.

Pinellas County continues to offer the hepatitis A vaccine at no cost and without an appointment at these clinics from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays:

• Tarpon Springs: 301 S. Disston Ave.
• Clearwater: 310 N. Myrtle Ave.
• Mid-County: 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo
• Pinellas Park: 6350 76th Ave. N.
• St. Petersburg: 205 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N.

Related stories:

• Florida Declares Health Emergency Over Hepatitis A
• Health Officials Say Tampa Bay At Center Of Hepatitis A Outbreak
• Pinellas Health-Care Workers Hit Streets With Hepatitis A Vaccine
• 18 Floridians Dead After Contracting Hepatitis A