NORTH MERRICK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Nassau County health officials say a 7-Eleven worker may have exposed people to hepatitis A.

County Executive Laura Curran and Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein were expected to hold a news conference Friday afternoon.

An employee at the busy store on Jerusalem Avenue in North Merrick was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Health officials now think the illness could possibly have been spread to customers and other employees between Feb. 1 and March 6.

“I want to be clear that the risk is low. This is not cause for panic, but people should take precautions to protect their health,” Eisenstein said.

Authorities added that once the employee was diagnosed their doctor was required to notify county health officials. Their identity is being protected following the diagnosis.

The employee reportedly handled food and drinks at the store, one of the primary ways the hepatitis could spread.

“The mode of transmission is this fecal, oral transmission. So a small amount of feces from a contaminated individual on an object or on food that you consume,” nurse epidemiologist Deborah Kimelstein explained.

Hand washing after using the bathroom limits the potential for transmission. A note on the door of the 7-Eleven shows the store has passed a recent inspection. Still, that doesn’t ease concerns for customers.

“That’s obviously scary because when you come to think about it if employees got it then customers are exposed to it too,” Jayden Moffitt said.

County officials are offering free hepatitis A vaccines for anyone who may have been exposed within the last two weeks. The shot is not effective for those who may have been in the store earlier than that.

Those customers are being told to monitor themselves for possible symptoms.

“It’s like fever malaise. You get, sometimes, abdominal discomfort… sometimes you get nausea, loss of appetite,” Kimelstein said.

The infected employee has not returned to work at the 7-Eleven while being treated. They will first need to be cleared by doctors.

The first vaccination clinic will be held on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Nassau Community College. Another will take place Monday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Nassau Health Department in Mineola.

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