Toronto Public Health (TPH) has issued a warning after a confirmed case of Hepatitis A was linked to a staff member at a downtown restaurant.
Diners at Earls Kitchen + Bar at 601 King St. W., you may have been exposed to the virus, and health officials are urging you to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
According to a TPH alert issued Thursday, a food handler working at the location has tested positive for Hepatitis A, which is typically spread through contaminated food or surfaces.
TPH say Hepatitis A is a liver infection that’s usually short-term but can cause serious illness, especially in older adults or people with underlying liver conditions. It doesn’t become chronic like Hepatitis B or C, and most people recover completely.
Though it isn’t transmitted through coughing or sneezing, the virus can pass from person to person via what’s known as the “fecal-oral route” — in other words, it spreads through tiny particles of infected poop, usually due to poor hand hygiene during food prep.
Here’s when exposure could have occurred:
- Friday, July 11: 4 p.m. to close
- Saturday, July 12: 4:30 p.m. to close
- Tuesday, July 15: 4:30 p.m. to close
- Wednesday, July 16: 7 p.m. to close
If you visited during any of these times, TPH recommends that you monitor for symptoms such as fever, fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin (jaundice). These symptoms can appear anywhere from 15 to 50 days after exposure, and some individuals may not exhibit any symptoms at all.
However, TPH says there’s no ongoing risk at the restaurant — meaning it’s safe to dine there now.
You can protect yourself by getting vaccinated (most effective if you get it within 14 days of potential exposure), washing your hands frequently (especially after using the washroom or before eating), and avoiding food prep if you’re feeling unwell.
TPH is hosting two free vaccine clinics at Metro Hall (55 John St.) on Friday, July 25, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 26, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
More information about Hepatitis A can be found on the TPH website.
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