February 2008 — VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2
Interior Health warns of Hepatitis A infection
Visitors, staff and residents of Sun Peaks who ate at Masa's
Bar and Grill on dates specified below are advised to take precautions after a
member of the restaurant's staff was confirmed infected with Hepatitis A.
Anyone
who dined at Masa's Bar and Grill after 3 p.m. on Jan 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, or 24
should immediately get immunized for the virus. According to a bulletin from the
Interior Health Authority, the illness can last for several weeks and people generally
recover completely. Frequent hand washing is the most effective way to avoid spreading
Hepatitis A.
The food handler apparently caught the infection while vacationing
overseas. Hepatitis A is a viral illness affecting the liver, and symptoms, which
include abdominal cramps, fever, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes,
may develop 15 to 50 days after exposure. As stated on the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov, transmission of Hepatitis A can occur
through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water,
ice, or shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables,
or other foods that are eaten raw and were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent
handling. The virus is most prevalent in South America, Africa, Indonesia and
Southern Europe.
As noted by Christopher Nicolson, president of Tourism Sun
Peaks, in an advisory e-mail, the immunization centre at Sun Peaks has been moved
to the upper level of the Burfield Lodge. There will be free immunization centres
set up at the Kamloops Health Clinic between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31.
The
Masa's employee is reported as no longer infectious and Darshan Lindsay, communications
officer for Interior Health, says no other cases have been identified though precautionary
measures are still being taken. All precautions have been taken to ensure the
safety of the public when dining at Masa's.
"Because of the one case at
Masa's the precaution is taken against potential exposure [to Hepatitis A],"
Lindsay says.
Masa's Bar and Grill remains fully operational and all of the
restaurant's staff are being immunized with the Hepatitis A vaccine as a precaution.
Contact the Sun Peaks Health Centre at 250-578-2014 for more information.
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