New York City health officials are “suggesting” that anyone who had dessert between March 23 and April 2 at Alta, a Mediterranean Restaurant on West 10th Street get vaccinated for Hepatitis A after it was discovered that one of its food handlers has contracted the liver disease.
The restaurant estimates that it served more than 3,000 customers during that period, and estimates that at least 15% of them had dessert.
“We are working closely with the health department to ensure our customer’s safety,” commented owner Christopher Chesnutt, who added that they are working to obtain as many names as possible of people who may have been exposed so they can be contacted directly. He was also quick to state that, “This is an isolated incident and the infected employee is no longer on the premises.”
Hepatitis A (also known as infectious hepatitis) is transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person. The average incubation period is can be anywhere from 2-6 weeks, with early symptoms of hepatitis A infection often mistaken for influenza, including fever, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, in addition to jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes due to hyperbillirubinemia). Some patients may also have clay-coloured feces. but some sufferers, especially children, exhibit no symptoms at all. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 6 weeks (the incubation period) after the initial infection.
For more information, speak with your doctor or contact the US Department of Health and Human Services Manhattan District Offices 231 Grand St, New York, NY 10013 800 772-1213
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