Covington cafeteria worker diagnosed with hepatitis A

COVINGTON, KY (FOX19) - A cafeteria worker at John G. Carlisle Elementary School in Covington has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the superintendent of Covington Independent Public Schools.

Superintendent Alvin Garrison says the school was throughly cleaned under the direction of the Northern Kentucky Health Department on Monday.

Classes will continue as normal at the school.

All students in preschool through grade 12 in Kentucky are required to get hepatitis A vaccinations.

They are available from your child’s doctor and the health department. In addition, the vaccination is available at school if your child is registered for services at the school-based health center.

Staff who worked with the involved employee have been told to get the hepatitis A vaccination immediately to protect against the virus.

Families have been advised to monitor children and school employees have been told to be on the lookout for any symptoms that may develop over the next 50 days.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown colored urine, and light colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes may also appear.

If you have questions, contact the Northern Kentucky Health Department at (859) 391-5357.

Since January 2018, 208 casess of hepatitis A have been reported in Northern Kentucky, and 2,865 have been reported in the state.