Georgia restaurant employee diagnosed with hepatitis A; customers urged to get vaccinated

A server at Lolita’s Bar and Grill located at 472 Buford Avenue in Lawrenceville, Georgia has been diagnosed with a hepatitis A infection. Individuals who dined at the restaurant between Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 may have been exposed and should contact their health care provider or the Gwinnett County Health Department to determine if hepatitis A vaccination is needed to prevent illness.

The Gwinnett County Health Department offers the Hepatitis A vaccine, which is free to individuals regardless of insurance status.

Hepatitis A is a contagious viral infection that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown urine, light-colored stools, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Symptoms usually begin 2 – 7 weeks after exposure and usually last less than 2 months, but may last up to 6 months. Some people with severe hepatitis A symptoms require hospitalization.

Hepatitis A spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated with small, undetected feces from an infected person. Hepatitis A can be spread if restaurant workers who are infected with hepatitis A do not wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom.

Anyone who consumed food or drinks at Lolita’s Bar and Grill between October 24th and November 7th please note:

1. If you have not received the hepatitis A vaccine before or have been infected with hepatitis A, seek hepatitis A vaccination within 14 days of exposure. If you have been vaccinated or have been previously infected with hepatitis A, you are considered immune and do not need to be vaccinated.
2. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food.
3. Monitor your health for symptoms of hepatitis A infection for 50 days after exposure.

If you develop symptoms of hepatitis A, stay home and contact your health care provider or health department immediately.

The restaurant has been cooperating with the health department’s investigation and has taken proactive steps, including arranging immunizations for vulnerable employees and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the restaurant. Education on preventing the spread of hepatitis A is also provided.

If you have questions, please contact their health care provider or the Gwinnett County Health Department at 770-339-4260 (press 0 and ask to speak to the on-call epidemiologist).Epidemiologists can also be reached after hours at 404-323-1910 or 866-PUB-HLTH