The Mecklenberg County Health Department has issued a public health warning about possible exposure to Hepatitis A for people who visited the Hooters in Concord, North Carolina or the Whiskey Warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina. Anyone who ate at Hooters February 7 or 8, 2013 from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm, or Whiskey Warehouse on February 6 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, February 9 from 4:30 pm to 3:30 am, or February 13 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm may have been exposed to Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a disease that affects the liver. It’s caused by the Hepatitis A virus, which is very contagious. The virus is spread by eating food or drinking beverages that may be contaminated, or by personal contact with an infected person. An employee of both of those restaurants has been confirmed as having viral Hepatitis A.
Anyone who visited those establishments during the above time periods who has not had a Hepatitis A vaccine or who has not had the disease should be vaccinated immediately. A vaccine is effective when administered within 14 days of exposure. The Public Health Authority of Cabarrus County/Cabarrus Health Alliance is offering clinic hours for walk-in patients at 300 Mooresville Road in Concord. You can see the clinic hours by visiting the health department’s web site.
The symptoms of Hepatitis A include fever, nausea, diarrhea, light colored stool, dark urine, tiredness, loss of appetite, jaundice, and abdominal cramps. But those infected with the virus may not have any symptoms at all. When the virus affects the liver, the patient must often be hospitalized.
