An employee at the High Hampton Inn restaurant in Cashiers, North Carolina has tested positive for Hepatitis A. Anyone who ate at that restaurant on April 26, 27, 28, 29, or May 1, 2013 may have been exposed to the virus.
Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. Symptoms of an infection include loss of appetite, fever, abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, jaundice, nausea, tiredness, and dark urine. Not everyone who harbors the virus exhibits symptoms. It is spread by fecal-oral transmission, through food, drink, and contact. If left untreated, the infection can cause permanent liver damage, especially if the patient has pre-existing liver conditions.
Public heath officials are investigating this case. Anyone who ate at the restaurant on the above dates should contact their doctor. A vaccine can be given within two weeks of exposure to prevent infection. The Hepatitis A vaccine, or immune globulin, are given to different populations depending on age. For more information, contact the Jackson County Department of Public Health at 828-586-8994.
