Starbucks worker contracts hepatitis A, possibly exposing thousands

A New Jersey Starbucks employee who handled food tested positive for hepatitis A, prompting fears that “thousands” may have been exposed to the highly contagious liver disease.

The incident occurred at the Starbucks outlet at 1490 Blackwood Clementon Road in Gloucester Township, where the food handler had reportedly worked multiple days this month while contagious. The department was notified of the infection on Nov. 17, whereupon it inspected and then subsequently shuttered the coffee shop — despite finding no evidence of food safety violations.

“The county health department has been working closely with the patient and the staff at the Starbucks to address the situation,” Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako said in a statement. “The patient is not currently working, and close contacts have been identified.”

That particular Starbucks location, according to the company, “is busy, as most are,” county spokesman Dan Keashen told CNN. “They’re saying they have an average of 600 patrons a day and some are return patrons maybe going multiple times a day … but the exposure is probably in the thousands.”

As a result, anyone who visited the location on Nov. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 or 13 is being urged to get the hepatitis A vaccine “as soon as possible but no later than 14 days after contact,” per the press release.

To help facilitate immunization, health officials administered 17 hepatitis A vaccines to Starbucks employees on Thursday and established a nearby pop-up vaccine clinic on Friday and Saturday, the Washington Post reported.

“Our highest priority is ensuring everyone involved remains safe and healthy,” said Nwako. “We encourage anyone who may believe they were exposed to get vaccinated against hepatitis A by calling the county health department or your primary care physician.”

So far, 782 patrons and 17 Starbucks employees have received the shot, marking the largest hepatitis A vaccination campaign in New Jersey history, CNN reported.

Thankfully, no one else has tested positive for the highly contagious disease, which is transmitted via close contact with an infected individual or “through consumption of contaminated food or drink,” per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Per the site, hep A symptoms can last up to two months and include fatigue, nausea, stomach pain and jaundice — although most people “do not have long-lasting illness.” In rare instances, the disease can result in liver failure or death, but that is generally more common in older people and others with pre-existing afflictions such as liver disease, according to the Washington Post.

The ailment is particularly insidious as people can spread it without exhibiting symptoms.