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Last updated on Monday, July 9, 2018
(BEDFORD) - New numbers that were just released show the amount of hepatitis-A cases in Indiana are still growing.
Just this week, there were two more cases reported in Lawrence County, which brings the total number of people infected to 28. In the state 202 are reported with Hepatitis A.
FOX59 News reports a Bedford man is bedridden after contracting the virus. The health department says they are working to figure out how he became infected.
Stormi Miller says her dad has been sick for weeks.
On June 21, Ben Thomas first went to the doctor after experiencing symptoms.
A week later doctors confirmed just what the family had feared, Ben had contacted Hepatitis A.
Ben says he had recently eaten at two of the four restaurants where the Lawrence County Health Department confirms employees sick with hep-A handled food.
Friday afternoon, the state department of health told FOX59 they "have not identified any cases of hepatitis that we believe to be transmitted from a food handler." The department assured us that they "evaluate all restaurant and food exposures, along with other risk factors, for cases of hep-A."
While Ben and his family are looking for answers as to how he contracted the virus, their primary focus is his health. The virus is affecting his liver function, he is jaundice, his liver swollen, and he has lost more than 20 pounds.
As the outbreak continues, the Lawrence County Health Department urges everyone to get vaccinated, including anyone who ate at the restaurants where cases were confirmed. Those restaurants include the Bedford Burger King, Mamma's restaurant, Marco's Pizza, and the Papa John's in Mitchell.
According to the health department, a Papa John's employee infected with the virus delivered packaged food to the Mitchell location on June 12 and 15. Health officials say a Bedford Burger King employee handled food while ill on May 15-24. An employee at Mamma's restaurant handled food while ill on June 8-9. Back in April, Marco's Pizza in Bedford confirms an employee was ill and working with the virus. The department says all of the people who ate at those restaurants during that time frame should monitor for symptoms of hep-A for at least 50 days.
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