Lancaster CA Residents ON EDGE After Fruit Cart Vendor Tests POSITIVE For Hepatitis A

A fruit cart vendor running a street-side operation in Lancaster was infected with hepatitis A, says the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

At-risk customers for contracting the infectious disease are those who interacted with the man between the period of August 15 through August 22, 2017, according to the advisory issued Monday.

“The fruit vendor was located on the corner of West Avenue L and 20th Street West in Lancaster… Anyone who bought fruit from the vendor’s fruit cart (at this location) during the period of August 15 through August 22 may be at risk for hepatitis A,” health officials said in the advisory.

Those who ate products from the fruit vendor should receive an immune globulin (IG) shot or hepatitis A vaccination within the next week to prevent or reduce illness, health officials said.

The county will offer free vaccinations to anyone who may have been exposed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Antelope Valley Public Health Center, located at 335-B East Avenue K6 in Lancaster. The local health center can be reached at 661-471-4860.

“We are actively investigating this situation. It is important that anyone who may have bought or consumed fruit from this vendor during the period of August 15 through August 22 should contact their doctor to discuss possible hepatitis A prevention and treatment options,” stated Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, MD, MPH, Interim Health Officer, Los Angeles County. “Those who purchased this product should discard any remaining fruit if still found in their home.”

This new case may be linked to the outbreaks of hepatitis A infections occurring in San Diego and Santa Cruz counties, authorities said in the advisory.

“The large majority of those cases have occurred in persons who are homeless and/or use illicit drugs (injection and non-injection), with several cases also occurring among people who provide services to the homeless. The [Lancaster] worker with hepatitis A who worked at the fruit stand had previously spent time in San Diego, has received care, and is no longer infectious,” the L.A. County health advisory states. source