By Sherlene Shanklin

Tonight, Kroger Stores released that one of their employees has the Hepatitis A virus.  The store in question is located at 4915 Dixie Hwy in Louisville? This is what i know.  An associate at that store has been diagnosed with the Hepatitis A virus. While infected, this associate worked at the store in February in the produce department. As a result, some customers who visited the store and shopped the produce section from February 4 to February 28 may be at risk of exposure to the Hepatitis A virus. 

Any produce purchased during that time from that Kroger should be discarded. Customers and others who may have consumed that produce should be familiar with the symptoms of Hepatitis A and seek medical attention, if needed. Kroger is cooperating fully with local and state health officials to identify associates and customers who may be at risk for infection.

Kroger released the following:

Kroger is committed to the health and well-being of all of our associates and customers.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection. Antibodies produced in response to hepatitis A infection last for life and protect against reinfection. The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.” Customers who may have been exposed are encouraged to visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav for more information.

I pulled up the CDC link for you and this is what you need to watch out for in regards to symptoms.

Note-some of them sound like flu-like symptoms so watch them closely if you have them.

According to the CDC-A blood test is needed to diagnose Hepatitis A.  Talk to your doctor of someone from your local health department if you suspect that you have been exposed.