Sept. 19 update: The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will again have its facilities open in Greenville and Spartanburg from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, to provide post-exposure treatment to individuals who might have been exposed to Hepatitis A at two Hardee’s restaurants in Spartanburg County. The restaurants are located at 12209 Greenville Hwy. in Lyman, SC, and 1397 E. Main St. in Duncan, SC. Customers and staff who consumed food or drink at either of these two restaurants between Aug. 31 and Sep. 15, 2015, and Sept. 1 and Sept. 13, 2015, respectively, could have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. “Our primary concern is protecting the health and safety of the community,” said Dr. Anna-Kathryn Rye, M.D. and medical consultant in DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control. “If you did not eat at these restaurants during these dates, you are not at risk and do not need to receive post-exposure treatment. However, if you did eat at these restaurants during these dates you might be at risk of exposure.” Rye recommended that customers and staff who as of today ate at the Lyman-area restaurant between Sept. 6 and Sept. 15, 2015, or the Duncan-area restaurant between Sept. 6 and Sept. 13, 2015, should receive post-exposure treatment for hepatitis A. Post-exposure treatment is recommended for individuals if it can be administered less than two weeks from their date of consuming anything from the restaurants. Following Saturday’s clinics, 1,109 individuals have currently received post-exposure treatment for Hepatitis A. The agency also has received 392 calls from the public through its hotline (1-800-868-0404), officials stated. Previous coverage follows: Officials with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said Friday, Sept. 18, that customers who ate at two Hardee’s restaurants in Spartanburg County might have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. One location is at 12209 Greenville Highway in Lyman, SC, with potential exposure dates between Aug. 31 and Sept. 15, 2015. The second location is at 1397 E. Main St. in Duncan, with potential exposure dates between Sept. 1 and Sept. 13, 2015. Customers and staff who consumed food or drink at these restaurants during these dates could have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus, officials said, adding that the illness is not a foodborne outbreak. The department was notified Sept. 17 that an employee of the Lyman Hardee’s had tested positive for Hepatitis A. An investigation of the case revealed the illness in a close contact of that person who works at the Duncan Hardee’s outlet. The state health department is working with these restaurants to identify and contact customers and staff who might have been exposed. “Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus,” said Dr. Anna-Kathryn Rye, M.D. and medical consultant in DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control. “People usually become sick within two to six weeks after being exposed to the virus, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible to prevent the virus from developing into Hepatitis A infection.” Rye recommended that customers and staff who ate at the Lyman Hardee’s restaurant between Sept. 4 and Sept. 15, 2015, or ate at the Duncan Hardee’s restaurant between Sept. 4 and Sept. 13, 2015, receive post-exposure treatment for Hepatitis A. Post-exposure treatment is recommended for individuals if it can be administered less than two weeks from the date they consumed anything from the restaurant (the last date would be Sept. 15). Customers and staff who ate at these restaurants during these dates are encouraged to come to the Spartanburg County Health Department, 151 E. Wood St., Spartanburg, or the Greenville County Health Department, 200 University Ridge, Greenville, for post-exposure treatment on Saturday, Sept. 19, or Sunday, Sept. 20, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Both health departments will also offer post-exposure treatment on Monday, Sept. 21, from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Health officials said that the Hepatitis A vaccine is of no proven benefit when administered more than 14 days after exposure. As of Friday, Sept. 18, customers and staff who ate at these restaurants between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 are therefore not likely to benefit from post-exposure treatment. Anyone who ate at one these two Hardee’s restaurants between these dates should watch for symptoms of infection, such as nausea, vomiting, and jaundice, which would cause yellowing of the eyes and skin. Consult a health care provider if symptoms develop, health officials recommended. If you have a question or concern about possible exposure, call the health department at 1-800-868-0404. Operators are available Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and next Monday through Friday, Sept. 21-25, 2015, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information about Hepatitis A, go here.

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