MURRAY – There’s a new hepatitis A scare out of Murray, so Salt Lake County tells customers of one store they could have the disease.
Hepatitis A has run through the homeless and unhealthy populations, infecting 153 people in the county, and about 220 Utahns, since May.
In that time, two people have died from the usually non-lethal disease.
“But the latest case is a food handler in Murray at the Edible Arrangements store,” said county medical director Dagmar Vitek.
Dr. Vitek also said around 600 cut fruit baskets from 5211 S. State St. could have been contaminated between March 21 and April 13.
The store has been shut down, and owner hired a professional cleaner.
“They’re going to use chemicals that actually work against the hepatitis A virus,” Dr. Vitek said. “It’s going to be thoroughly cleaned.
“They’re throwing away all of the foods that could have been possibly contaminated.”
Dr. Vitek wants everyone to get the hepatitis A vaccine from the county or their doctors.
Customers of the Murray store should especially watch for symptoms like low fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and yellow skin and eyes.
