Public health officials have recommended that anyone who ate at the Hardee’s restaurant on Little Rock Road in Charlotte between June 13 and June 23 receive a hepatitis A vaccination.

The Mecklenburg County public health director said on June 26 that several people were identified as having hepatitis, including an employee of the Hardee’s restaurant.

The Rowan County Health Department has received state-supplied hepatitis A vaccines. They are available on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The office will be closed for the July 4th holiday on Wednesday.

Questions should be directed to the Rowan County Public Health Department at 704-216-8784 or 704-216-8811.

Anyone who ate at the restaurant and may have been exposed should receive the vaccine unless he has had the hepatitis A infection before or have had at least one hepatitis A vaccine in the past.

The vaccine must be given within 14 days of the exposure to be effective.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease caused by a virus that is spread from person to person. The illness can last from weeks to months.

Hepatitis A is spread through feces, commonly when people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, having sexual contact with a partner who is infected, and eating foods contaminated with hepatitis A.

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to practice safe hand washing. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds every time you use the bathroom or change a diaper and before you prepare food.