An employee at the Pizza Cart restaurant in Cedar City, UT, has tested positive for Hepatitis A, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. Department officials are alerting customers who ate at the restaurant from April 29-June 1, 2015, that they may have been exposed to the virus. Those previously vaccinated for Hepatitis A are protected. However, anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and who ate at this restaurant from May 19-June 1, 2015, should be be vaccinated or get immune globulin, depending on their age, the department stated.
Those who ate at the restaurant from April 29-June 1, 2015, should contact a doctor or other health care provider if they develop Hepatitis A symptoms, which are jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. “Hepatitis A is a virus that is very contagious,” said David Heaton, the department’s public information officer. “It is usually spread person to person and it is fecal oral, meaning that somehow it comes from getting feces or stool into somebody’s mouth. Whether it is contaminated food or water, or touching a contaminated surface, then touching your mouth, there are a lot of ways it can be contracted.” Hepatitis A shots are being offered at the department’s office in Cedar City. Hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The phone number is (435) 865-5148. No appointment is needed, but the department is asking people to allow 30 minutes for the visit. Those wanting the Hepatitis A vaccine should bring their immunization records, a picture ID, and an insurance card. Without insurance, the vaccine cost is $75 for ages 19 and older and $50 for ages 18 and younger. Shots may also be obtained from a health care provider. The department noted that there have not been any other confirmed Hepatitis A cases linked to the Pizza Cart in Cedar City, and that the restaurant remains open. The Pizza Cart owners noted on the restaurant’s Facebook page that all staff members have now been vaccinated for Hepatitis A, and that the employee who tested positive was recovering and “will not be returning to work until medically cleared.” They added that how and where the employee contracted the virus is unknown.
