New Hampshire What Food Service Workers Need to Know about Hepatitis A Poster

W
	hat Food Service Workers Need	 	
to Know about Hepatitis A 	
What is Hepatitis A? 
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. People get 
hepatitis A by eating contaminated food or 
water, or through close contact with an infected 
person. 
 
Why should restaurants be 
concerned about hepatitis A? 
A food service worker with hepatitis A can 
transmit the virus to patrons by contaminating 
surfaces, utensils, or food. If recognized early, 
steps can be taken to prevent transmission to 
others. 
 
How do I know if I have been 
infected with Hepatitis A? 
Some people who are infected have no 
symptoms while most will have some 
combination of the following: nausea, fever, 
stomachache, dark uri ne, light stools, and 
jaundice (yellow skin and eyes). Symptoms 
appear 15 to 50 days after exposure to the 
virus. The only way to diagnose hepatitis A is 
by a blood test. 
 
What happens if I become 
infected with Hepatitis A? 
There is no treatment for hepatitis A. If a food 
service worker becomes infected, state law 
requires that person cannot work at a food 
service establishment until one week after the 
onset of symptoms. The health department will 
visit the restaurant to ensure appropriate food 
handling practices and to determine if there is 
risk to the restaurant patrons.  If there is risk, 
the health department will recommend that 
other employees and/or patrons receive a	
 	
protective shot called immune globulin or IG 
that helps prevent hepatitis A in people who 
have been exposed to the virus. 
 	
How can I prevent Hepatitis A? 
Hepatitis A transmission can be prevented in 
food service establishments by following 
routine food safety practices including: 	
?  Proper and frequent handwashing 	
o 	Wash hands with hot soapy water 
for at least 20 seconds. 	
o 	Hands must be washed after 
using the restroom, eating, 
smoking, coughing, sneezing, 
and handling garbage or soiled 
equipment and utensils. 	
o 	Hands must be washed before 
handling or preparing food. 	
o 	Hand sanitizers do not replace 
the need for handwashing. 	
? No bare hand contact with ready-to-eat 
foods including garnishes and 
rearranging cooked food on a plate. 
? Stay home from work if you are 
experiencing vomiting or diarrhea 	
 
If you have been in contact with someone with 
hepatitis A, be sure to consult with your 
physician and the health department to 
determine the need for immune globulin (IG). 
Hepatitis A can also be prevented by receiving 
the hepatitis A vaccine.  Consult with your 
physician to determine whether you should 
receive this vaccine. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
For more information, contact: 
NH Dept. of Health and Human Services
Disease Control Section 
29 Hazen Drive 
Concord, NH 03301 
(603) 271-4496 
Toll Free: 800-852-3345 ext. 4496 
www.dhhs.nh.gov