Employee At Va. Smoothie Cafe Diagnosed With Hepatitis A

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) -- An employee at a smoothie cafe has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

Health officials say the employee of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Gainesville became sick in July but wasn't diagnosed until later.

Officials say customers who are or drank anything at the location between August 12 and 18 could have been exposed and may benefit from getting vaccinated.

The cafe's owner said he conducted a deep clean of the restaurant after the diagnosis.

Officials say the case is being investigated as part of a group of 35 recent cases that could be linked to the Tropical Smoothie Cafe chain. The infections have been linked to frozen strawberries from Egypt.

Virginia