Hepatitis A Case At North Jersey Food Store: Officials

PATERSON – The New Jersey Department of Health is warning people this weekend about a confirmed case of hepatitis A.

The case involves a food handler employed at a food store in North Jersey who worked while he or she was potentially infectious between September 30 and October 5, according to a NJDOH release.

The food worker was employed at Brother’s Produce at 327 E Railway Ave. in Paterson.

The department is recommending that:

• Any produce purchased from Brother’s Produce between September 30 and October 5 should be discarded.
• Individuals who may have eaten produce from Brother’s Produce between September 30 and October 5, and who were not previously vaccinated against hepatitis A, should receive “post-exposure prophylaxis” (PEP).
• PEP consists of hepatitis A vaccine and/or immune globulin which can further reduce the risk of acquiring hepatitis A
• To be effective, PEP should be received as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after eating contaminated food. For most people, this date would be October 19.

PEP may be obtained from your health care provider.

For those without health insurance, the Paterson Department of Health has a limited amount of PEP. This is available to adults (age 19 and up), according to the release.

The department is providing PEP at its office at 176 Broadway, Paterson, on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

For additional questions, you can leave a message with the Paterson Department of Health at 973-321-1277 x 2757.

Hepatitis A is mainly spread via close person-to-person contact or via contaminated food. Symptoms of hepatitis A may include fever, feeling tired, poor appetite, dark yellow urine, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, yellow skin or eyes. Symptoms usually appear within 3 to 4 weeks after infection, according to the release.

Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver caused by a virus. Frequently Asked Questions on hepatitis A are available at: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/faq/hepatitis_a_faq.pdf