NAC441A.560. Hepatitis A: Generally.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having hepatitis A to confirm the diagnosis, to identify any contacts or other cases, to identify the source of the infection, to determine if the case is employed in a sensitive occupation or is a child attending a child care facility and to determine the need for administration of prophylaxis to contacts of the case.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a case having hepatitis A and any contact residing in the same household as a case having hepatitis A shall not work in a sensitive occupation. The health authority may waive the provisions of this section if a case or contact is considered not to be infectious.

     3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a child having hepatitis A shall not attend a child care facility. The health authority may waive the provisions of this section if the child is considered not to be infectious.

     4. If a case having hepatitis A is in a medical facility, the medical facility shall provide care to the case in accordance with enteric precautions or other appropriate disease specific precautions.

     5. The health authority shall instruct cases having hepatitis A and contacts of cases having hepatitis A of the need for and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

     6. Upon learning of a contact through his or her investigation, the health authority shall offer and provide appropriate prophylaxis to a contact who has not been vaccinated against hepatitis A if the contact’s last contact to the case having hepatitis A was within the preceding 2 weeks and while the case was in a communicable stage.

     7. If a food or beverage handler has hepatitis A, the health authority shall determine the potential for transmission of the communicable disease within the food establishment. If the health authority determines that there is a potential for transmission of the communicable disease, he or she shall:

     (a) Offer appropriate prophylaxis to other food and beverage handlers in the workplace who have had contact with the food or beverage handler having hepatitis A and who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A.

     (b) If warranted under the circumstances, make a public announcement to inform patrons of their potential exposure.

     8. The employer of a food or beverage handler who declines prophylaxis pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 7 and has not been vaccinated against hepatitis A shall observe the food or beverage handler and report to the health authority if the food or beverage handler develops any symptoms of hepatitis A during the 45 days after refusing prophylaxis.

     9. The employer of a food or beverage handler shall instruct the food and beverage handler of the need and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R087-08, 1-13-2011)