LEWISTON, Maine — A case of hepatitis A has been identified in a food service worker in Lewiston, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday.
The Maine CDC said in a news release that at the time of the infection, the person worked at Marco’s Italian Restaurant, 12 Mollison Road, Lewiston.
The person reportedly worked at the restaurant on the following days while infected:
- September.eleven
- September. 13
- September. 15-16th
- September. 18
- September. 20-22nd
- September. 25
- September. 27-28th
“Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus,” the release said. “It can be spread through person-to-person contact or through the consumption of contaminated food or water.”
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says anyone who purchased and/or consumed food or drinks from this restaurant during the days in question may be at risk for hepatitis A infection.
“An infected person can spread the virus to others from approximately two weeks before to one week after the onset of symptoms,” the release said.
Hepatitis A can be prevented with a two-dose vaccine series, and people who have been exposed to hepatitis A can avoid getting sick if they get vaccinated within 14 days of exposure.
The Maine CDC recommends anyone who thinks they may have been exposed and needs the vaccine to contact their health care provider. Some medical facilities in Maine are offering vaccines to people without health insurance. You can find the list here.
“After receiving one dose of vaccine, at least 94 out of 100 people will become immune for several years,” the Maine CDC says. “It is important to get the complete two-dose series to ensure long-term protection.”
The Maine CDC says individuals who may have been exposed should take the following steps:
- Discard any leftover food purchased at this restaurant during the above dates.
- If eligible, get vaccinated.
- If you eat or drink at this restaurant during these dates, please get a hepatitis A vaccine within 14 days of the last time you eat or drink there.
- If more than 14 days have passed, people who have not been vaccinated before can still get vaccinated at any time to prevent future exposure.
- Individuals working in restaurants during these dates should receive the Hepatitis A vaccine within 14 days of their last date of employment.
- Ask your healthcare provider if you need hepatitis A immune globulin (IG) in addition to the hepatitis A vaccine; some people may need both.
- If you have received the hepatitis A vaccine, you are already protected. You do not need any additional hepatitis A vaccines at this time.
- Monitor for symptoms of hepatitis A. Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- feeling tired
- Low or no appetite
- stomachache
- nausea
- diarrhea
- dark urine
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- fever
- joint pain
Symptoms can appear 15 to 50 days after exposure to the hepatitis A virus and can range from mild to severe, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People who are very sick may need to go to the hospital, and their symptoms may last for several months. Most children under 6 years old have mild or no symptoms,” Tuesday’s news release said.
You can find more information about hepatitis A here.
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