The Allentown Health Bureau announced Sunday that it is investigating a laboratory-confirmed case of hepatitis A in an employee of the Pasta Alla Rosa Restaurant located at 602 Hamilton Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

All restaurant patrons who ate at Pasta Alla Rosa Restaurant between September 23, 2011 and October 7, 2011 and were not previously vaccinated against hepatitis A are encouraged to receive hepatitis A vaccine to prevent infection with the virus.  The health bureau is encouraging restaurant patrons who ate at the restaurant during the specified time frame to contact their health care provider to discuss post-exposure prophylaxis. 

The health bureau will make free Hepatitis A vaccine available to restaurant patrons who ate at the restaurant during the specified time-frame today, from 9am-4pm during a walk-in clinic at 245 North Sixth Street.

Patrons who do not receive prophylaxis are advised to seek medical treatment if they begin to experience signs and symptoms of hepatitis A.   Symptoms include any of the following: jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin), white stool, dark urine, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.