Corbin Little Caesar’s Pizza worker diagnosed with Hepatitis A

A worker at a Corbin restaurant has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A, according to a Knox County Health Department release Monday.

The case of Hepatitis A was diagnosed on Friday, Dec. 7, in a food service worker at Little Caesar’s Pizza, which is located at 510 Master Street.

“An investigation found that the risk of restaurant patrons becoming infected is very low. Although additional cases are unlikely to occur, Little Caesars Pizza is working with us to prevent any new cases from arising in the community as a result of this case,” the release stated.

Little Caesar’s store manager Larry Engle and owner Matt Kauffman, said the employee became ill Friday and went home sick.

Store officials learned of the infection Monday, and began a thorough cleaning of the store with bleach per health department regulations.

In addition, all of the staff will be receiving Hepatitis A vaccinations.

Engle noted that Hepatitis A couldn’t survive in temperatures exceeding 185 degrees. The oven used to cook pizza at Little Caesar’s Pizza is set at 500 degrees.

Kauffman said the store is complying with all health department mandates.

Engle added that the health department would be coming Thursday to do an educational program for employees on how to prevent Hepatitis A.

They added that the store is cleaned and sanitized daily.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown colored urine, and light colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes may also appear.

People may have some or none of these symptoms. It could take up to 50 days after being exposed to the virus for someone to become ill.

Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. The virus spreads when an infected person does not wash his/her hands adequately after using the toilet or engages in behaviors that increase risk of infection.

Careful hand washing, including under the fingernails, with soap and water, along with vaccination of anyone at risk of infection, will prevent the spread of this disease.

CDC recommends Hepatitis A vaccination for the following groups:

• All children at age 1 year
• Travelers to countries that have high rates of Hepatitis A
• Family members and caregivers of recent adoptees from countries where Hepatitis A is common
• Men who have sexual contact with other men
• People who use injection and non-injection illegal drugs
• People with chronic (lifelong) liver diseases, such as Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• People who are treated with clotting-factor concentrates
• People who work with Hepatitis A infected animals or in a Hepatitis A research laboratory