Indianapolis, In. — The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is working with the Wayne County Health Department (WCHD) to inform people who may have eaten food prepared at Casey’s General Store in Centerville about a possible exposure to hepatitis A.
An employee at the store, located at 704 E. Main St. in Centerville, has tested positive for hepatitis A. Anyone who consumed food prepared onsite at that Casey’s location between July 5 and July 12 is recommended to receive a hepatitis A vaccination by July 26 to help prevent illness.
Those who would like to be vaccinated should visit their primary care doctor, walk-in clinic or pharmacy with a vaccinating pharmacist. Individuals should call ahead to verify vaccine availability. ISDH also is working with WCHD to make additional vaccine available for a public vaccination clinic from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the health department’s multipurpose room, 201 E. Main St., Richmond.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted person-to-person through fecal-oral routes or by consuming contaminated food or water. Indiana law has required a hepatitis A vaccine for school admission since 2014, so most students preparing to enter fourth grade and younger have already been vaccinated.
Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of hepatitis A should contact a healthcare provider immediately and refrain from preparing food for others. Symptoms can include diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice, which usually appear within one month of infection. Individuals can become ill 15 to 50 days after being exposed to the virus. A doctor can determine if someone has hepatitis A with a blood test.
