Alert: Restaurant Patrons Warned To Get Hepatitis Vaccinations Following Dessert Scare At Popular Restaurant
Patrons won't be ordering dessert at one New York City restaurant after a pastry chef tested positive for Hepatitis A, New York City health officials said this afternoon.
The city advises patrons of the Alta restaurant in the West Village to get tested for the disease after one employee had become infected sometime in late March to early this month. The restaurant owner estimated that as many as 450 people had ordered dessert between the dates of March 23 and April 2, when the infected worker came into contact with the food.
The city is encouraging these patrons to get vaccinated for the disease.
"This isolated incident has affected an employee who is no longer on the premises," said Manny Solano, manager of the restaurant. The former employee had travelled to Mexico recently, he said.
Solano said all the restaurant's employees will be vaccinated by Monday, while the city promised to make vaccinations available for free to anyone in that risk category.
"We are asking these restaurant patrons to get this vaccination as a precautionary measure," Dr. Thomas Farley, the city's health commissioner, said. "If people experience symptoms, they should see a doctor immediately. This incident serves as an important reminder to always wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease."
Hepatitis A is a liver disease and symptoms of the disease can include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
ABC News station WABC-TV in New York reported the restaurant "bustling" Friday night with patrons trusting the health department's ruling that the threat had been cleared. The restaurant received a letter grade of "A" from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.