County health officials said Friday they are investigating a report of a hepatitis A infection in a worker at Tam O’Shanter restaurant in the Atwater Village area in Los Angeles, and warned residents of possible exposure.
No other hepatitis cases associated with the restaurant employee have been identified, according to the county Department of Public Health, but the investigation is continuing.
Health officials warned that because the worker may have been contagious while working, anyone who dined or drank at the restaurant between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1 may have been exposed and should receive a vaccine as soon as possible.
People who have been previously vaccinated or were previously infected with hepatitis A are considered to be protected from re-infection.
“Public Health is working with the restaurant to ensure all employees that are not immune get vaccinated,” according to the department. “Public Health will continue monitoring all (people) known to have been exposed as part of this investigation.”
People without insurance or unable to quickly receive a vaccine can contact the Public Health InfoLine at 833-540-0473.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that can cause mild to severe illness, with rare instances of death. It usually spreads when a person ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks contaminated by microscopic amounts of stool from an infected person, health officials said.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools and diarrhea.
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