CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Chief Health Officer Dr. Rahul Gupta issued a “strong recommendation” Wednesday that all food service workers in Kanawha and Putnam counties be vaccinated for hepatitis A following a recent outbreak in West Virginia that is part of a larger national outbreak.
Gupta announced Wednesday three vaccination clinics in the next 10 days that will offer the shots to those in the high-risk groups.
“We want to make sure that we have minimized amount of cases moving forward and the best way to do that is prevent it. The best way to do that is to make sure high-risk groups have the opportunity to get the vaccine,” he said.
In recent weeks, eight restaurants in the Kanawha Valley have been identified as having one worker with hepatitis A. Gupta said each of those workers had a drug history, one of the high-risk groups.
Vaccinating all food service workers should slow down the spread of hepatitis A, Gupta said.
“We want to take all of the precautions we can take to contain this outbreak which includes making sure we vaccinate the high-risk groups and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do,” he said.
In the meantime, Gupta said residents should continue patronize restaurants.
“These places are still very safe to patronize and we have not seen any transmission from workers to customers. The risk to the average person remains very low at this time,” Gupta said.
The restaurants where those with hepatitis A have already had all of their employees vaccinated. Gupta said his recommendation for all food service workers in the Kanawha Valley to get the shots should put residents at ease.
“I think when patrons go to a restaurant, and we continue to encourage them to do that, they should feel the confidence that the workers that are serving them and preparing their food are fully protected against this disease,” Gupta said.
The Bureau of Public Health purchased more than 20,000 doses of the hepititis A vaccine last week for more than $500,000. It will be available for use in three upcoming clinics:
May 25 Kanawha-Charleston Health Department 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
May 30 Charleston Civic Center 8 a.m to 6 p.m.
June 1 St. George Conference Center-Charleston 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
There have been 106 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of hepatitis A statewide. Most of the cases have been in Kanawha and Putnam counties. Gupta said more than 70 percent of those with hepatitis A have spent some time in the hospital.
Those considered high-risk are those who use drugs, are homeless, those who have been released from jail in the past six weeks and those who take part in male on male sex.
The vaccine will be provided free if the person is uninsured or underinsured and works in the food industry, or is in the high-risk group, in Kanawha and Putnam counties only. If they have insurance, the insurance will be billed.
Gupta previously top MetroNews good hygiene habits can help prevent the spread.
“You want to wash hands (with soap and water) both before and after you eat, when you go out to eat, and when you cook,” Gupta said. “This is not a time to panic but it is time to be aware of good hygiene and another opportunity to remind us why that good hygiene is critical in everyday life,” he said.
To learn more about hepatitis A or the vaccine, please visit DHHR’s Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology hepatitis A outbreak webpage: www.dide.wv.gov