A hepatitis A alert has been issued for patrons of bartaco restaurant in Port Chester, New York. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages between October 12 and October 23, 2017 may have been exposed to the virus. The health department learned about the illness on October 25, 2017.
Officials are recommending that patrons get preventative treatment against the illness. Vaccinations include immune globulin and hepatitis A.
If you ate there before October 13, 2017, it’s too late for a shot. The vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. The health department is offering free shots on Friday, October 27 from 4:00 to 7:45 pm, and on Saturday, October 28, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to provide consent. Advance registration is recommended.
If you have been vaccinated against this illness, or have had it, you are immune and do not need treatment. You can be treated by your own doctor if you’d like.
Unfortunately, the department is also telling the public that anyone who ate or drank at bartaco between August 22, 2017 and October 11, 2017 that they may also have been exposed to hepatitis A. These people are outside of the window to receive any preventative treatment. If you fall into that group, contact your health care provider if you have been experiencing the symptoms of hepatitis A. Others could be sickened from contact with you and they should be alerted so they can receive a shot.
Some news outlets are reporting that a “handful of residents” have been diagnosed with hepatitis A. Some got sick before the restaurant’s employee first started showing symptoms.
Because a person is infectious before they start showing symptoms, these warnings about possible restaurant exposure are often issued. To prevent these outbreaks, anyone who works in a public setting, such as restaurant workers, health care workers, and those who work in education should consider being vaccinated. Good hygiene is also critical to prevent these outbreaks, since transmission of the virus is through the fecal-oral route. Wash your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom and before preparing food or serving food or drinks to others.
Dr. Sherlita Amler, Commissioner of Health said in statement, “Hepatitis A is generally a mild illness whose symptoms include fatigue, fever, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine, light colored stool and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. There are no special medications used to treat a person once symptoms appear, but Hepatitis A transmission to others can be prevented through proper handwashing.”
Symptoms of this illness usually appear within 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus. And a person is infectious two weeks before they even show symptoms.
The restaurant has been cooperating with the investigation, and closed yesterday. Owners are voluntarily vaccinating all employees with the hepatitis A vaccine. The restaurant will reopen after it has been re-inspected and approved by the health department.
