The Associated Press
People who ate at a mall restaurant on several dates in late July and early August may have been exposed to hepatitis A, Durham County health officials warned.
A worker at the Big Bowl restaurant at The Streets of Southpoint mall was diagnosed with the mildest form of the viral disease after working part time on July 24, 25, 26 and 30, and Aug. 2 and 8.
The county health department offered free shots to people who ate at the restaurant during the hours the infected worker was on duty in August.
Shots were not offered to customers on the July dates because it’s too late to do any good. Immune globulin can prevent hepatitis A only when given within two weeks of exposure, said county health director Brian Letourneau.
Hepatitis A is a sometimes serious and highly infectious liver disease, typically contracted by eating or drinking food or fluids contaminated by traces of fecal material.
An infected person can pass along the disease by failing to wash properly after using the bathroom and then touching another person or handling uncooked food or beverages.
Children who contract hepatitis A often don’t show any symptoms. In adults, it can produce tiredness, loss of appetite, fever, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and darkened urine.
“The odds of anybody getting sick from this incident are really pretty small,” Letourneau said.
He said any customers who develop symptoms should contact the health department or their doctor.
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Information from: The Herald-Sun,