Hundreds call hepatitis hotline after possible exposure at West Jordan convenience store

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WEST JORDAN, Utah, Jan. 9, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Nearly 500 people had called the hepatitis hotline by Tuesday morning after a Sunday night announcement for customers of a 7-Eleven who may have been exposed to the virus.

The alert was directed at people who visited the West Jordan 7-Eleven located at 2666 W. 7800 South between the dates of Dec. 26 and Jan. 3, and had used the restroom or purchased food items including fresh fruit, fountain drinks or other self-serve beverages, or items prepared on site, such as hot dogs or chicken wings.

People who consumed factory-packaged foods or drinks, or who were fully vaccinated for hepatitis A, did not need to contact the Health Department, the statement said.

During the Dec. 26 to Jan. 3 time period, an employee infected with hepatitis A worked at that 7-Eleven location. Hepatitis A is an extremely contagious virus that infects the liver.

The release issued Tuesday by the Health Department said:

  • 496 calls had been received since Monday
  • 343 people had been referred for preventive hepatitis A vaccine
  • 129 vaccines had been given at Salt Lake County immunization clinics

The Salt Lake County Health Department said in an earlier statement that as many as 2,000 could have been exposed.

Those who may have been exposed are urged to call 385-468-INFO (4636). The phone line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Health department staff will screen callers for their exposure risk and provide them with options for receiving the preventive hepatitis A vaccine.

The call center will remain open through Wednesday, and possibly into Thursday, depending on volume, officials said.

The 7-Eleven store has been fully cleared for normal operation by the health department.

“SLCoHD believes this case is linked to the ongoing outbreak Salt Lake County has been experiencing since August 2017,” the Health Department statement said. “7-Eleven is cooperating fully with the health department’s investigation and response.”

2 COMMENTS

  1. According to Utah Labor Dept it’s against the law to even ask a prospective/new/ or current employee for his or her vaccination status or release letter from a physician.

  2. According to Utah Labor Dept it’s against the law to even ask a prospective/new/ or current employee for his or her vaccination status or release letter from a physician.

    These kind of situations will happen again. No way to prevent it.

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