Over the weekend, an employee of the Dogwood Southern Table and Bar was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Health officials say he did not prepare food, but he was responsible for cleaning and polishing silverware and glasses. He also delivered food to patron’s tables.
The health department is advising all employees and patrons who were in the restaurant on the dates and times listed below that they may be at risk of developing Hepatitis A if they have not been vaccinated. The following dates and times of concern are Feb. 3 and Feb. 4.
Feb. 3, dinner service, last day to be immunized is Feb. 17
Feb. 4, dinner service, last day to be immunized is Feb. 18
The health department is holding a walk-in clinic to accommodate those people wanting to be vaccinated for Hepatitis A at the Health Department at 249 Billingsley Road in Charlotte on Monday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. So far, 20 people have received vaccinations and depending on the weather, there may be additional days set up at the clinic.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. This virus is just one of a number of hepatitis viruses that that can cause inflammation of the liver and affect its ability to function. People can become infected with the Hepatitis A virus by coming into contact with food or water contaminated with the virus, or from close contact with someone infected with the virus.
According to the Mayo Clinic’s web page, a mild case of Hepatitis A usually doesn’t require treatment, and most people will recover without any permanent damage to the liver. Not everyone will have symptoms, but if symptoms do develop, they can take from two to six weeks to show up after becoming infected. Usual symptoms may include: fever and tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, gray-colored stools, dark urine, joint pain and jaundice (a yellowing of the white’s of the eyes and skin).
