Hundreds of people in New Jersey got vaccinations against hepatitis A after a Starbucks employee tested positive for the disease.
CNN reported that a Starbucks employee tested positive for the disease and may have exposed thousands of people to it.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease can be spread through close contact or consumption of contaminated food and beverages. The CDC says that the symptoms can appear two to six weeks after an illness and last up to two months.
The Camden County Health Department urged people in a news release to get vaccinations as soon as possible but no later than 14 days after contact, if they had visited the Starbucks on November 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13.
The Camden County Health Department shut down the Starbucks location after hearing about the exposure.
The Camden County Health Officer said that the department has been working with the patient and the staff at Starbucks to address the situation. Ensuring everyone remains safe and healthy is our highest priority. The patient is not currently working. If you believe you were exposed to the disease, you should call the county health department or your primary care physician.
The pop-up vaccine clinics were set up by public health employees. The largest vaccine effort in the history of New Jersey has been given out so far, according to CNN.
Starbucks says that the location is busy. According to Dan Keashen, a county spokesman, they have an average of 600 patrons a day and some may go multiple times a day. The exposure is likely in the thousands.
CNN reported that the employee who tested positive is in recovery. No one else has tested positive.
