County health officials said Friday they were investigating a report of hepatitis A infection in an employee at the Tam O'Shanter restaurant in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles and warned residents about possible exposure.
There have been no other cases of hepatitis linked to the restaurant employee, but the investigation is ongoing, according to the county health department.
Health officials warned that because the employee may have become infected while on the job, anyone who dined or drank at the restaurant between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1 may have been exposed and should get the vaccine as soon as possible.
People who have previously been vaccinated or were previously infected with hepatitis A are considered protected from reinfection.
“Public Health is working with the restaurant to ensure all employees who are not immune are vaccinated,” the department said. “Public health will continue to monitor all (people) known to have been exposed as part of this investigation.”
People who are uninsured or unable to get a vaccine quickly can call the public health information line at 833-540-0473.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that can cause mild to severe illness and rarely death. It usually spreads when a person ingests the virus through objects, food or drinks contaminated with microscopic amounts of an infected person's stool, health officials say.
Symptoms include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools and diarrhea.
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