Restaurant employee confirmed for hepatitis A virus; Niagara Falls Taco Bell patrons during specific timeframe may have been exposed

By the Niagara County Department of Health

Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton on Wednesday announced a case of hepatitis A virus in a local restaurant worker. The Niagara County Department of Health launched a disease investigation on Tuesday, directly after receiving notification of the suspected case. Following laboratory testing, interviews and a restaurant inspection, an employee who handles food at Taco Bell on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls was identified with the hepatitis A virus.

The establishment has been notified of the potential exposure and the manager has sent the sick employee home. Additionally, the NCDOH has advised the manager to send any staff reporting hepatitis A virus related symptoms for medical evaluation before returning to work. Employees of the restaurant will be offered post exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Taco Bell in Niagara Falls will be subject to additional inspections over the coming weeks and is complying with NCDOH recommendations.

As a result of this potential hepatitis A virus exposure, NCDOH is advising anyone who ate food as a dine-in, takeout, delivery or utilized the restroom at Taco Bell in Niagara Falls (7300 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls) between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1, 2019, to receive free hepatitis A vaccine from the Niagara County Department of Health to prevent potentially exposed individuals from becoming infected. The point of dispensing will be held at Doris W. Jones Family Resource Building, 3001 Ninth St., Niagara Falls, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday Dec. 5, and Friday Dec. 6.

“We encourage those who may have been exposed in this specific timeframe to visit the point of dispensing to receive free post exposure prophylaxis,” Stapleton said.

Those attending the point of dispensing are encouraged to pre-register to save time during the onsite registration process. Pre-registration may be completed prior to arrival by visiting. Click on http://www.niagaracounty.com/Health and look for the pre-registration link at the top.