Personal Injury Law

Hepatitis A shots available in Salt Lake City

By Bill Marler

 The Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLVHD) has announced that a case of hepatitis A in a food worker employed at a local restaurant has been confirmed and they are urging some patrons to receive a preventive inoculation.

Health department officials say that people who ate at Quiznos at 30 East Broadway (300 South) in Salt Lake City on August 6 and 7 may be at risk for developing hepatitis A and should receive an injection of immune globulin (IG) or hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible. These people can obtain a vaccination at the SLVHD City Clinic at 610 South 200 East today (August 19) until 5pm, tomorrow (August 20) from 8:30am to 6:30pm and Saturday (August 21) from 8:00am to 12 noon. The cost of vaccinations will be covered by Quiznos.

People who ate at the restaurant on these dates and who are not currently in the Salt Lake valley area are urged to contact their state or local public health department or their health care provider.

Additionally, people who ate at the restaurant between July 27th and August 5th may also have been exposed but would not benefit from the immunizations because immunizations must be given within 14 days of exposure. These people should watch for signs of hepatitis A and contact their health care provider if they develop illness.

Immune globulin and/or the hepatitis A vaccine can prevent infection if given within 14 days of exposure. People between ages 1 and 40 can receive hepatitis A vaccine; infants and people over 40 should receive immune globulin. If you have received the hepatitis A vaccine series, you do not need to be revaccinated.

Early signs of hepatitis A appear 2-6 weeks after exposure. Symptoms commonly include an abrupt onset of fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine and jaundice (yellowness of eyes or skin).

The disease varies in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and more severe cases lasting 4-6 weeks or longer. Some individuals, especially children, may not develop jaundice and may have an illness so mild it can go unnoticed. However, even mildly ill persons can be highly infectious. Persons with symptoms suggestive of hepatitis should consult a physician immediately, even if symptoms are mild.

Hepatitis A virus is spread as a result of fecal contamination (fecal-oral route) and may be spread from person to person through close personal or intimate contact or through food handling. The virus is commonly spread by contaminated food or beverages. Persons are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A when they have been in close and continuous contact with an infected person.

Quiznos Restaurant Inspection Information No other Quiznos restaurants have been affected by this Hep A exposure. SLVHD restaurant inspection records show that the Quiznos restaurant has had very good inspections in the past and the restaurant management is cooperating fully with the investigation. There are no other confirmed hepatitis A cases related to the restaurant at this time and the restaurant is still open for business. There is no risk of exposure at this time.

Full post as published by Hepatitis Blog on August 21, 2010 (boomark / email).