How Hepatitis A Can Be Spread Through Contaminated Foods

 Posted on May 18, 2021 in Hepatitis

There are many different types of viruses, bacteria, or toxic chemicals that can lead to food poisoning outbreaks. Hepatitis A is one of the less common foodborne illnesses, but it still affects tens of thousands of people each year in the United States. This disease can be very dangerous, and those who have been affected will want to consult with an attorney to determine their options for recovering financial compensation from the person or establishment that was responsible.

What Makes Hepatitis A Different From Other Foodborne Illnesses?

Most foodborne illnesses affect the gastrointestinal system, and people will often begin experiencing symptoms within a few hours after eating contaminated foods. However, Hepatitis A attacks the liver, and symptoms will take longer to appear. Usually, a person will begin experiencing symptoms between 15 and 50 days after the contamination occurred. This can sometimes make it difficult to identify the source of the contamination.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, which may be similar to the symptoms of other types of foodborne illnesses. However, victims may also experience jaundice in which they have a yellow tint to their skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools. This indicates that a person’s liver has been affected. Severe infections can cause serious damage to the liver, which could be fatal.

Hepatitis A is a highly infectious disease, and it is often spread through close person-to-person contact, including sexual contact or sharing intravenous drug needles. It can also be spread through the stool of a person who is infected, such as when someone who works in a restaurant does not fully wash their hands after using the bathroom. Food may also become contaminated with Hepatitis A when it is grown, harvested, processed, handled, or shipped. This is less likely to happen in the United States, but fresh or frozen foods that are shipped to the U.S. from other countries may be contaminated. Foods that have been linked to Hepatitis A outbreaks in the past include raw fruits and vegetables and shellfish. If these foods are not properly washed and cooked before being served to customers, people may contract dangerous infections.

Contact Our Illinois Hepatitis A Food Poisoning Attorneys

A Hepatitis A infection can be very dangerous, especially for people who have chronic liver disease, HIV, or other health conditions. To prevent the possibility of customers being harmed by this virus, restaurant workers should always follow the correct sanitary procedures, including washing their hands, cleaning surfaces and utensils used to prepare food, avoiding cross-contamination when food is stored, and fully cooking food to the proper temperature. If you have contracted Hepatitis A, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you determine whether a restaurant or other food service facility was responsible, and we will help you take legal action to receive financial compensation for all of the ways you have been affected. Contact our Illinois foodborne illness injury lawyers at 312-981-0409 to set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm

https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/hepatitis-virus-hav

https://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/food-poisoning-or-something-else