A food worker at the Piccolo Italian Market & Deli at 6518 Gateway Avenue in Sarasota, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Sarasota County Health Department. Laboratory confirmation of the illness was received on July 3, 2019.
That person worked at the Piccolo Italian Market between June 21 and June 29, 2019. That means that anyone who ate food or drank beverages at the restaurant on June 21, 22, and 23rd is no longer eligible for a hepatitis A vaccination. The vaccines are only effective if given with two weeks of exposure.
If you ate there on June 24 to the 29th, 2019, you should call your doctor about being vaccinated or visit your local county health department. Sarasota County Health Department is offering the vaccine at their main office at 2200 Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. For questions, call the county at 941-861-2873 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
If you are not eligible for the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination, you should monitor your health for the symptoms of hepatitis A for the next 50 days. Symptoms usually begin 15 to 50 days after exposure. For the first two weeks, a person who is infected is contagious, even though they aren’t exhibiting symptoms.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include abdominal discomfort, dark urine, clay-colored stools, fever, lethargy, weight loss, and yellow eyes and skin (jaundice). If you are experience these symptoms, see a doctor.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of this contagious virus. Anyone who works with the public should consider getting vaccinated. You can also wash your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom, and stay home from work or school if you are sick, particularly with a diarrheal illness.
There is no cure for this illness; people get better with time, but some, especially those with liver disease, may need to be hospitalized.
