Los Angeles County health officials are recommending that customers who consumed food or beverages at the Panda Express in Lancaster between July 21 and August 4 be vaccinated against hepatitis A.
Los Angeles County Public Health officials said the alert came after department officials said a food handler working at the restaurant at 44411 Lancaster Valley Central Road found a hepatitis A virus infection.
No other cases have been identified so far.
Hepatitis A, a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through the fecal-oral route (when another person ingests contaminated feces of an infected person in nearby personal contact ), or eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
Most adults with acute hepatitis A develop symptoms that include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Symptoms range from mild to severe.
The hepatitis A vaccine is available at some local pharmacies or doctors’ offices. In addition, the county health department will provide free hepatitis A to contacts at the Antelope Valley Health Center (335 E. Ave. K) Monday from 12:30 noon to 4:30 pm and from 8 am to 4:30 am Vaccination. Tuesday to Friday afternoon.
While timely vaccination may prevent infection, it can still develop in people who get vaccinated too late.
People who have been vaccinated against hepatitis A before or who have a past infection do not need to be vaccinated.