State Health Officials warn of potential exposure to Hepatitis A after infection in food service worker in Provincetown

The Massachusetts Department of Community Healthcare DPH Barnstable County Department of Strength and Surroundings and the Provincetown Board of Physical condition are alerting anyone who dined at The Red Inn at Commercial Street in Provincetown between April and May that they may have been exposed to hepatitis A and should contact their healthcare provider A food system employee of the restaurant who worked during those dates has a proven infection with hepatitis A virus Customers who could have been exposed to the virus are being advised to contact their medical care provider and receive appropriate biological medication for a practicable exposure to hepatitis A Preventive measures such as hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis A immune globulin are generally only effective at preventing hepatitis A infection if given within two weeks of exposure prior to symptom onset The early signs and indicators of hepatitis A are fever fatigue loss of appetite nausea vomiting diarrhea and jaundice dark urine yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes The illness varies in severity with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and more severe cases lasting four to six weeks or longer Particular individuals especially children may not develop jaundice and may have an illness so mild that it can go unnoticed However even mildly ill persons can still be highly infectious People with illness suggestive of hepatitis should consult a healthcare care provider even if clues are mild Hepatitis A virus is spread as a conclusion of fecal contamination fecal-oral trail and may be spread from person-to-person through close contact or through food handling The virus can be spread by contaminated food and beverages Customers who dined at The Red Inn between April and May are urged to be particularly thorough in handwashing after toileting and prior to food preparation to avoid any expected further spread of illness Handwashing should include vigorous soaping of the hands including the back of the hands wrists between fingers and under fingernails Hands should be thoroughly rinsed Hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended as part of childhood immunizations since so people years and younger may have been previously vaccinated Those who dined at the restaurant between April and May are urged to confirm their vaccination status with their provider Additional information is available by calling DPH s Division of Epidemiology available at - -