The operator of a McDonald’s franchise operating in Waterloo, New York was sued on Wednesday by a customer who claimed that customers were exposed to food and beverages prepared by a worker diagnosed with hepatitis A, a virus that causes contagious liver infections. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York state court in Seneca County against Jascor Inc., seeks a class action status for the customers who might be affected. The prosecution said the number of affected customers could be more than 1,000.
Several McDonald’s outlets are run by franchisees rather than the McDonald’s Corporation itself. The Seneca County health department, after conducting a test on November 13, confirmed the worker for hepatitis A. In spite of the fact that the county health department mentioned that the possibility of vulnerability and exposure among the diners is low, they are still encouraging and asking anyone who ate or drank in the restaurant between the days of Nov. 2, 3, and 5, as well as 6 and 8, to pursue treatment. Earlier, they provided hepatitis A vaccine as a precautionary measure. According to reports, at least a thousand people could become complainants in this scenario.
A crew member with hepatitis A could potentially transfer the virus not just to food and beverages, but also to utensils simply by not washing after a trip to the lavatory. Plaintiff Christopher Welch bought and ate food and beverages at the Waterloo McDonald’s during the said period. Moreover, a temporary emergency clinic was set up at the Mynderse Academy Gymnasium at Troy Street in Seneca County. More than 1,000 customers who may have been exposed to the virus were given hepatitis A vaccines. The county health officials are expecting numbers to climb.
“In Seneca County we have we have not had hepatitis A outbreak before, at least a large breakout in the 23 years since I’ve been here. I’m glad to see we had such a good turnout and that people are taking this seriously,” said Seneca County Public Health Department Director Vicky Swinehart.
As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), hepatitis A is a viral disease that directly affects the liver. The person may develop mild to severe symptoms determined by the degree of virality and personal immunity. These include malaise, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin), pain in the abdomen, fever, and nausea. Usually, these symptoms appear as early as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Therefore, it is advised that the hepatitis A vaccine should be given before two weeks of possible last exposure.
In the case of McDonald’s, the worker could spread his illness to the customers if he or she did not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or has touched various utensils and surfaces used by diners. Signs and symptoms could become evident in about two to six weeks after being exposed to the virus, but these symptoms are not very clear or evident in a great deal of children. The hepatitis A vaccine can last for a lifetime and is, so far, the best protection against the virus.
Be the first to comment on "McDonald’s Operator Sued after Diners Exposed to Hepatitis A"