Health & Fitness

Nashville Bar Employee Tests Positive For Hepatitis: Health Dept.

An employee at Germantown's The Back Corner tested positive for hepatitis, the health department reported Tuesday.

NASHVILLE, TN -- Hepatitis A opened a new front in Nashville, as the health department reported Tuesday the latest batch of positive test results includes an employee at an entertainment venue.

The ongoing outbreak is now up to 48 cases, including an employee at Germantown's The Back Corner. While the health department emphasizes that the risk of contracting the illness is low, it will offer free vaccines to anyone who visited the venue at Fifth & Taylor between June 28 and 30.

Health officials say those people have until July 14 to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus and the health department will offer the free shots until Friday, July 13 at its three health centers.

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  • East at 1015 East Trinity Lane
  • Lentz at 2500 Charlotte Avenue
  • Woodbine at 224 Oriel Avenue
The health centers are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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After confirming the outbreak the health department began offering free vaccinations to illegal drug users, people who are homeless and men who have sex with men, groups that have a higher risk of contracting the liver infection.

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Metro Health received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of the hepatitis A vaccine from the state last month, followed by an additional 750 doses. The health department said the state has more doses available as needed.

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice and clay-colored stools. The disease can be severe in some people possibly requiring hospitalization, but most recover completely within a few weeks.Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill.

Health officials began offering hepatitis A vaccinations June 9 to inmates and staff alike at Davidson County Sheriff's Office facilities and that effort should be completed by the end of the week, the health department said. Going forward, the vaccine will be offered when a person is booked. In addition, all inmates are now screened for the disease before they are taken to court dates or appointments and those showing signs or symptoms are held in isolation until they are cleared by medical staff.

Image via Centers for Disease Control & Prevention


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