Voorhees Iron Hill worker tests positive for Hepatitis A

GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- An employee at the Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Voorhees, New Jersey has tested positive for Hepatitis A, Camden County officials said Friday.

The employee worked as a server at the restaurant and has not been back to work since being diagnosed.

Authorities say the employee was hospitalized on May 8th with intermittent flu like symptoms, fatigue, nausea and dark urine. The patient said the symptoms started on May 2nd.

Tests confirmed a Hepatitis A diagnosis and the Camden County Health Department was notified on May 11th.

The Health Department says it took action to vaccinate all of the employees to protect them and eliminate the threat of spreading the disease.

The Health Department says the restaurant employee had limited direct contact with food consumed by the public, and was not experiencing symptoms while working.

Therefore, officials say this case poses little to no risk to the public health.

The restaurant owner reported the incident to the Health Department and is said to be fully cooperating with the investigation.

The Health Department says, "It should also be noted that all restaurant inspections have been good for this establishment prior to the incident."

In response to the news, Iron Hill released a statement that reads in part: "As a precaution, Iron Hill immediately contacted the Camden County Health Department to alert them about the situation. After a thorough review and an on-site inspection, the Camden County Health Department, working closely with Burlington County Health Department officials and the New Jersey Department of Health, have determined that this 'case poses little to NO risk to public health' and has confirmed that Iron Hill Voorhees is a safe place to dine."

The statement went on to say: "Iron Hill will continue to monitor the situation, but there is an extremely low chance of any customer becoming ill. The employee, who is no longer at work, was employed as a server and is expected to make a full recovery. There are no other employees who have reported or exhibited symptoms."

Hepatitis A is spread through oral fecal transmission. It's rarely fatal, but it is highly contagious, and symptoms can appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure.

If you have questions in regard to Hepatitis A, call the Camden County Health Department hotline at (800) 999-9045 for more information.