The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is warning customers of the New Hawaii Sea restaurant in the Bronx that they may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus. Five people are sick with this virus, including one employee and four customers.
The restaurant is located at 1475 Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx, New York City. Anyone who ate there, either in-store, or through catering or delivery, between September 7 and September 19, 2013 may have been exposed. Any leftover food from the restaurant should be discarded. If you ate at that restaurant or consumed food prepared there during that time period, contact your doctor to see if you should be vaccinated.
Hepatitis A is spread through food, direct contact, and drink that has been prepared, served, or touched by an infected person. The symptoms include jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin, abdominal pain, clay-colored stools, dark urine, fatigue, and nausea. The symptoms appear fifteen to fifty days after exposure. If you are vaccinated within 14 days of exposure you are protected. Anyone who was exposed but has received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine sometime in their life do not need another shot.
The Health Department is offering hepatitis A vaccinations starting September 21, 2013 at the Herbert Lehman High School at 3000 East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. The clinic will be open from 2:00 to 8:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday, September 22, 2013. Pregnant women will not be treated; consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
