SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Jamba Juice's CEO responded Thursday to a hepatitis A scare originating at a Willow Glen location.

Santa Clara County Public Health Department said Thursday there might have been exposure to hepatitis A at a San Jose Jamba Juice, located in Willow Glen at the corner of Willow and Lincoln avenues (map).

Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib told NBC11 a worker came down with hepatitis A in August.

Jamba Juice To Reimburse After SJ Hepatitis Scare

He said because the worker came in contact with food, he is issuing a warning to customers. Fenstersheib said anyone who went to that restaurant and has certain symptoms should see his or her doctor.

The female employee, who is now recovering at home, worked on Aug. 1-3, 6-9, 11 and 13-16. Anyone who visited the store on those dates may have been exposed.

Health officials are recommending vaccinations for anyone who visited the store between Aug. 9 and 16.

For those who visited Aug. 9 or before, health officials recommend they be aware of symptoms and should any appear to contact a health provider. After 14 days the vaccine is no longer good to prevent the disease.

The vaccine is harmless and recommended for people 1 year to 40 years old. For anyone who ate at the store and is over 40 years old, under 12 months old, immune compromised, with chronic liver disease, or pregnant, immune globulin is available for prevention of infection.

"The irony is you are most infectious before you have symptoms." - Dr. Sara Cody

Jamba Juice CEO Paul Clayton said he learned of the hepatitis scare from the health department on Wednesday night.

"Our customers' health and well-being are the most important issue to Jamba Juice. We have worked in cooperation with the public health department to put together a plan to quickly solve the situation," Clayton said.

Jamba Juice will pay "eligible individuals, who satisfy the reimbursement requirements, their reasonable, out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis A," Clayton said.

For more information about the reimbursement policy, please call Jamba Juice at 877-217-4780.

The hepatitis scare didn't seem to hurt business Thursday, NBC11's Vicky Nguyen reported.

"I love Jamba Juice. I'm not really worried about getting a disease or hepatitis. It's scary knowing it could happen, but I'm not worried about it," said customer Leticia Soto.

"At first, I was kind of nervous, but then I think it's really probably an isolated case," said customer Anthony Valdez.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said adults will have signs and symptoms more often than children.

Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and fever, according to the CDC.

"The irony is you are most infectious before you have symptoms," said Dr. Sara Cody of the Santa Clara County Public Health Deptartment.

Symptoms usually last less than two months, and some people may be ill for as long as six months. The average incubation period for hepatitis A is 28 days, and it can happen from 15 to 50 days after exposure.

Clayton said that there is no connection between the contraction of the virus by the infected employee and Jamba Juice stores and products.

Jamba Juice said they responded to the scare by:

Conducting a thorough cleaning and sanitization of the store at Willow Glen.

Disposing of all open products, including fresh fruit and produce, boosts, frozen products and baked goods.

Temporarily replacing the team at the store at Willow Glen with members from other local stores. This will be in place until its employees all have received a sepatitis vaccination and a clean bill of health.

Learning that the affected employee has been treated by the Department of Health and is now free of the virus.

"We acted quickly to resolve this situation and the store is now open, 100 percent safe and we look forward to getting back to what we do best, serving up liquid sunshine," Clayton said.

Jamba Juice, which has 660 stores in 22 states nationwide, posted a preliminary unaudited total revenue of $89.6 million for the 2007 second quarter, up 14.1 percent from $78.5 million for the same quarter a year ago.