Late Monday the Hamilton Township Department of Health was informed by the state Department of Health of a confirmed case of Hepatitis A involving a food worker employed at Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering located at 3442 South Broad St, Hamilton Township.
In a press release health officials warned that people who ate at this restaurant or catered from this restaurant from Nov. 10 through Dec. 1 may be at risk for developing Hepatitis A if they have not been previously vaccinated with the Hepatitis A vaccine.
Unvaccinated individuals who ate there should receive an injection of immune globulin or Hepatitis A vaccine if their exposure occurred from Nov. 10 through Dec. 1, according to the health department. These individuals should contact their primary care providers or if uninsured their local health department to receive the immunization. Both immune globulin and Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent infection with the hepatitis A virus if given within 14 days of exposure.
Uninsured Hamilton residents should call the Hamilton Health Department — located at 2100 Greenwood Ave., Hamilton — at (609) 890-3884 for an appointment.
The health department explained that the early signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A appear two to six weeks after exposure and commonly include the following:
Mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen under the rib cage, dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).
The disease varies in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and more severe cases lasting four to six weeks or longer, according to the health department. Some individuals, especially children, may not develop jaundice and may have an illness so mild that it can go unnoticed. However, even persons with mild symptoms can be highly infectious. Persons with symptoms suggestive of Hepatitis A should consult a physician even if symptoms are mild.
Persons who ate at Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1 are urged to be particularly thorough with hand washing after toileting and prior to food preparation to avoid any potential for further spread of disease. They should not prepare or handle food for anyone outside of their immediate family, the health department said.
At all times, hand washing should include vigorous washing of hands with soap and running warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds. All surfaces should be washed down including the back of the hands, wrists, between fingers and under the fingernails.
Additional information regarding Hepatitis A can be viewed at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/ChooseA.htm.
Residents can also contact the Hamilton Township Division of Health at (609) 890-3884.
