Introduction
If you’re a fan of the popular coffee chain, you may want to take extra precautions when visiting your local store. According to reports, an employee of this mega coffee chain may have exposed thousands of customers to hepatitis A. This is a serious virus that can cause severe illness and even death. It is important to be aware of the potential risks and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family. In this article, we will discuss the potential risks associated with hepatitis A, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you think you may have been exposed.
An Employee of This Mega Coffee Chain May Have Exposed Thousands To Hepatitis A
It’s a scary thought, but it’s true: an employee of a major coffee chain may have exposed thousands of customers to the highly contagious virus, Hepatitis A. The employee, who worked at a location in California, tested positive for the virus and may have exposed customers who visited the store between April 24 and May 5.
Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause inflammation of the liver and can be spread through contact with an infected person’s feces. Symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice. It can take up to 50 days for symptoms to appear after exposure.
The coffee chain is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its customers. It has notified local health departments and is working with them to provide information to customers who may have been exposed. The company is also offering free vaccinations to customers who visited the store during the time of potential exposure.
If you visited the store during the time of potential exposure, it’s important to watch for symptoms of Hepatitis A and seek medical attention if any appear. It’s also important to practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and before eating.
Eat This Not That
If you visited the store during the time of potential exposure, it’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself and others. Avoid eating food from the store and opt for takeout or delivery instead. If you must eat at the store, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after eating. Avoid sharing food or drinks with others, and make sure to dispose of any food or drinks that may have been contaminated.
A Starbucks location in New Jersey was shut down last week by health authorities after it came to light that an employee handling food had tested positive to Hepatitis A, potentially exposing thousands of customers to the virus.
According to CNN, the employee worked at the Gloucester Township location of the coffee chain on November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13, and anyone that visited the store at 1490 Blackwood Clementon Road on those days may have been exposed. Health authorities have advised customers who aren’t vaccinated against the virus to get inoculated “as soon as possible but no later than 14 days after contact.”
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The Camden County Health Department said they were working with the patient and the staff of the Starbucks location to address the exposure. “Our highest priority is ensuring everyone involved remains safe and healthy. The patient is not currently working, and close contacts have been identified. We encourage anyone who may believe they were exposed to get vaccinated against hepatitis A by calling the county health department or your primary care physician,” the department said in a press release.
No one else has tested positive for the virus so far, including other employees of the location.
County spokesperson Dan Keashen said the number of customers exposed at the location is likely in the thousands. “Starbucks says that that location is busy, as most are,” he noted. “They’re saying they have an average of 600 patrons a day and some are return patrons maybe going multiple times a day.”
The incident drew a large number of residents to seek the Hepatitis A vaccination. As many as 800 shots have been administered at designated pop-up clinics near the Starbucks this weekend. This marks the largest vaccination effort against the virus in New Jersey’s history.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious infection of the liver that can be transmitted through close contact as well as the consumption of contaminated food and beverage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms of the infection include fever, nausea, and vomiting, and can take between two to six weeks to develop.
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