Since she handled food at the facility, a Starbucks employee in New Jersey who remained to work while testing positive for hepatitis A in November may have exposed thousands of customers to the illness.
Hepatitis A, May Have Infected Thousands Of Starbucks Customers
Anyone who attended the Starbucks at 1490 Blackwood Clementon Road on November 4th to 12thand 13thand anyone who visited the Starbucks on November 4 and 5 are included in the hepatitis A exposure, according to county spokesman Dan Keashen.
Camden County Health Department was informed of the incident on Wednesday, and the Gloucester Township Starbucks was immediately shuttered, according to Keashen, who talked to the media. On Friday, the health agency issued a news statement urging everyone who had contact with hepatitis A at that Starbucks to be vaccinated as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after exposure.
According to Camden County’s Health Officer Paschal Nwako, the county health office has been working closely with both patients and Starbucks staff in the city to solve the issue. All participants must be kept safe and healthy at all times.
The patient’s relatives and close acquaintances have been identified as possible sources of information for the investigation. Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to hepatitis A should seek advice and vaccination from their local health department or primary care provider.
Keashen claims that on Thursday, public health workers gave 17 hepatitis A vaccinations to Starbucks staff and that on Friday and Saturday, they set up a mobile immunization clinic in a nearby parking lot. Keashen said that thus far, 800 vaccinations have been given out, making this the largest hepatitis A vaccination program in the state’s history.
According to Keashen, Starbucks states that the location is busy, as are most of their locations. As many as 600 visitors each day are said to come to their site, some of whom are repeat clients, but the overall exposure is likely to be in the hundreds of dollars. According to Starbucks, visitors should ‘absolutely’ get vaccinated.
One of the Starbucks employees who were infected by the bacteria is now recuperating. So far, no one has tested positive for hepatitis A after being exposed to the virus, says a spokesperson.
Both his daughter and himself had been exposed to the risk of hepatitis A, and he was concerned. According to Keashen, who talked to the media, he was able to get his immunization today and is already feeling better.
Without hesitation, everybody who comes into contact with drive-thru or inside facility material should be given a vaccination. Because of the limited supply of vaccines in the state, putting together the required number of doses was time-consuming.
As a result, Keashen said, the state’s public health department officials had to travel throughout the state in order to collect vaccines. There are just a few hepatitis A vaccinations available in New Jersey.
Although demand for the vaccination is rising, the county has been able to secure 500 doses for a second pop-up clinic slated for Wednesday.