Karina Ioffee
Record Staff Writer
Published Thursday, Sep 1, 2005
SAN ANDREAS — The Calaveras County Public Health Department is urging anyone who may have eaten at a popular tourist destination in Murphys to get immunized for hepatitis A after it was learned that an employee there was infected with the virus.
Anyone who bought drinks or food from the deli at Ironstone Vineyards from Aug. 18-21, Aug. 24 and from Aug. 26-28 may have been exposed to hepatitis A, according to a statement issued by the county Health Department on Wednesday.
The deli worker at Ironstone also supervised children at the Sonora Parent Nursery Preschool twice during a three-week period when the virus could have been spread to others, the health department said.

It is crucial for anyone who was potentially exposed at either Ironstone or at the preschool to get vaccinated with immune globulin, which can prevent the development of the virus, said Dr. Dean Kelaita, a health officer for Calaveras County Public Health Department.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection most commonly transmitted through food and water and through inadequate hand washing after using the toilet. Symptoms usually begin two weeks after exposure and range from nausea and diarrhea to jaundice and fever. Hepatitis A usually resolves without complications but can result in severe illness in less than 1 percent of cases.
The deli worker, who was not identified by the county, became ill and is expected to get better.
The Calaveras Public Health Department is holding three public immunization clinics starting today for anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.
The clinics will be held at 700 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite 2-C in San Andreas from 4 to 7 p.m. today and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
If you think you may have been exposed, call the Toulumne County Public Health Department at 209 533-7401 or the Calaveras County Public Health Department at 209 754-6460.
Contact reporter Karina Ioffee at 209 546-8279 or kioffee@recordnet.com