Officials warn of potential hepatitis A exposure at South Philadelphia Acme

Health officials say people who visited a South Philadelphia Acme Market may have been exposed to hepatitis.

The Philadelphia Health Department says a food worker at the 1400 East Passyunk Avenue location has acute hepatitis A.

Officials say risk is low, but are recommending anyone who ate pre-cut fruit and vegetables purchased there between Sunday, March 17, and Friday, March 29, receive the hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible.

"It makes me a little nervous," Jeff Scott says.

Scott was not expecting to hear of a potential Hepatitis A exposure at the South Philly Acme where he shops all the time.

"I buy a lot of fruits and vegetables here, too, so that's a little bit disconcerting," Scott adds.

"I buy from here all the time. It's concerning to hear about something that's viral. That could really affect me," shopper Bobby Girard says.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months, including symptoms like fever, vomiting and jaundice.

Health experts say Hepatitis A can spread when a person with it prepares food without properly washing their hands after using the bathroom.

"You see the stuff that's up by Temple and you see this here, at Acme, here in South Philly. You have the mumps at Temple and then this. I mean, what's going on in Philly?" Girard wonders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.