Hepatitis A Infects Lounge, Pizza Shop Workers

The hepatitis A outbreak in southeastern Michigan continued this week when workers at a Detroit pizza shop and a Westland nightclub were diagnosed with the disease, according to a Detroit Free Press report.

Health officials say those who ordered food from Jet’s Pizza at 15235 East Seven Mile Road near Hayes between Nov. 30 and Dec. 11 or drank at the Token Lounge at 28949 Joy Road in Westland between Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 should watch for symptoms of hepatitis A.

People with hepatitis A are infectious for two weeks prior to symptom onset, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Symptoms of hepatitis A include jaundice (yellowing of the skin), fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and light-colored stools.

Symptoms usually appear over a number of days and last less than two months; however, some people can be ill for as long as six months. Hepatitis A can sometimes cause liver failure and death.

As of early December, 583 confirmed cases of the disease — which attacks the liver and has led to 20 deaths in Michigan since August 2016 — have been reported to health officials, a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 people or 38 percent higher than Utah, the state with the second highest rate, according to multiple media reports.

While cases have been reported in other counties, the majority of cases are from the city of Detroit, and Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair counties, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The total number of cases represents about a 10 fold increase, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"The Southeast Michigan hepatitis A outbreak remains a top priority for public health officials from both the investigation and prevention standpoints," Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for MDHHS, said in a statement. "Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease and in addition to our investigation of current and new cases, our focus is strongly aimed at increasing vaccination in adults, where hepatitis A vaccination is commonly low."

The Token Lounge remains open, the Free Press reported. The Wayne County Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness is investigating the case and inspected the nightclub Thursday, the newspaper reported.

The Jet’s Pizza employee stopped working after hepatitis A symptoms emerged, the Free Press reported. The Detroit Health Department is investigating the case, which said in a statement that the pizza shop has been “thoroughly cleaned and sanitized” and that the employee can’t return to work until approved by doctor.

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