🚨 Hepatitis Alert: Did You Eat at Lake Stevens Taco Bell Tuesday? ‼️

Hepatitis A exposures occurred at Taco Bell locations Lake Stevens & Everett (Broadway) May 22 & 23, per SnoCo Health Department.

Hepatitis A Carrier Confirmed at LS Taco Bell Tuesday

LAKE STEVENS - If you ate at Taco Bell Lake Stevens Tuesday, you may have as few as three minutes to live.

Just kidding, we needed your attention for this next part though.

If you ate at the Lake Stevens Taco Bell Tuesday (or one other Everett location, details below), you may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

If you were exposed — don’t panic — we’ve got info for you in this post. (Jump to the What to Do tab to skip the news story part).

The Snohomish County Health Department said today  they identified a case of hepatitis A that occurring via a food worker who worked at two Taco Bell locations: 2727 Broadway in Everett and 303 91st Ave NE in Lake Stevens

The Snohomish County Health Department is asking anyone who ate food from the Everett location on May 22 or 23 or from the Lake Stevens location on May 23 to check if they are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A. 

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What to Do If You Ate at Taco Bell Lake Stevens Tuesday May 23

People who are vaccinated or immune do not need to take any further action as they would be considered protected against this exposure.

Check your vaccination records via the Washington Immunization Information System at https://wa.myir.net. 

Those previously infected with hepatitis A are likely immune.

Individuals who are not vaccinated, immune, or are unsure of their status should Contact their healthcare provider or contact the Snohomish County Health Department at 425-339-3503 (then press 1) for guidance and potential post-exposure info to prevent illness. 

Post-exposure prophylaxis involves receiving the hep A vaccine or immune globulin (IG), which can provide immediate and lasting protection when given within two weeks of exposure to the hepatitis A virus. 

Hepatitis A vaccine is available from multiple healthcare providers or pharmacies in the county. 

Anyone who was exposed and is having trouble finding a vaccine provider, or who is uninsured or underinsured, should contact the Health Department. 

Hepatitis A lives in blood and feces and is most often spread through hand to hand contact.

The confirmed case appears to have been infected during international travel. 

The Snohomish County Health Department said Thursday they’re  working with the business to identify other workers who were potentially exposed.

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About Hepatitis A

The hepatitis A virus lives in the poop or blood of someone who is infected and typically spreads through fecal contamination. The virus may be spread from person to person through close contact or through food handling. Consistent, thorough handwashing is essential to prevent spread through food handling. 

The illness varies in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less. More severe cases can last six weeks or longer. Some individuals, especially children, may not develop jaundice and may have an illness so mild that it can go unnoticed. However, even mildly ill people can still be highly infectious. Anyone with symptoms of hepatitis A and potential exposure who is not vaccinated or immune should consult a healthcare provider right away even if symptoms are mild. 

For more information, visit www.snohd.org/hepatitis. 

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