A grocery store produce-department worker infected with hepatitis A was capable of spreading the virus weeks before a time period outlined by health officials.
Customers who had eaten specific fruits and vegetables purchased from the Albertsons at West Bowles Avenue and South Platte Canyon Road between April 6 and April 21 were advised to get shots after details of the worker’s infection were released.
A 9NEWS review of the case’s timeline and the Centers for Disease Control standards indicate the employee was in the infectious stage of hepatitis A dating back to mid-March.
A Tri-County Health Department official acknowledged it did not notify customers of the risk of potential exposure dating back to mid-March, stating that any customers infected during that time period could not be treated with the shots being offered.
“We were trying to come up with a positive statement,” said Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department.
The employee was cleared to return to work at the Albertsons on April 19. An Albertsons spokeswoman said the employee was barred from work until April 22 out of an “abundance of caution.”
After fielding questions from a reporter Wednesday night, Vogt ordered the employee to refrain from food handling until additional blood work is completed.
Vogt defended the decision not to inform customers of the full extent of the potential exposure.
“We did everything in our power to come up with a program that would prevent as many infections as possible,” said Vogt.
Vogt said the entire extent of the incident would be outlined in a written release to be issued this afternoon.
Customers who purchased produce from that Albertsons in March and are showing symptoms of hepatitis A will be advised to seek medical treatment, said Vogt.
Hepatitis A can cause fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, gray or white stools, and jaundiced eyes and skin, according to health officials. Symptoms usually show up about three weeks after infection.
Read what foods were affected at .
