Currently being investigated by the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department

The Ashland-Boyd County Health Department is investigating another hepatitis A case involving a food worker.

This time the restaurant in question is the Dairy Queen, located at 3300 13th Street,

Ashland.

The health department found the risk of restaurant patrons becoming infected is very low and said that Dairy Queen has been working with the health department to prevent any new cases from arising in the community.

In a statement, Dairy Queen said the company received notification that one of their employees fell ill and had tested positive with the hepatitis A virus.

“With the health and safety of our customers and employees being paramount, the store was immediately sanitized and disinfected, in accordance with health department regulations,” the company said, adding they have put additional procedures in place to ensure employees are adhering to strict health and sanitation policies. “Employees have received a hepatitis A vaccination or will be receiving the hepatitis A vaccination before returning to work.”

Dairy Queen said that ownership and management would continue to work closely with Ashland-Boyd County Health Department officials.

“Please know that the health and safety of our customers and employees is a top priority,” the company said.

Kentucky has more than 400 cases and Ashland has 35 plus cases of hepatitis A.

To date, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Lawrence County.

Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection and symptoms include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection.