Possible hepatitis A scare at local Cheesecake Factory
BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - The Central District Health Department has been alerted of a possible spread of Hepatitis A.
"It's usually transferred when someone infected hasn't properly washed their hands after going to the bathroom and then handles food or drinks," said Dave Fotsch, with the Central District Health Department.
In this case an employee at the Boise Cheesecake Factory had the disease and didn't realize it.
"The employee wasn't involved in food preparation, but did prepare drinks and serve plated food," Fotsch said.
Fotsch says that means the chance of others being exposed is small.
"We believe the employee practiced good hand hygiene and wasn't handling food with bare hands so the chances are pretty low but not zero," Fotsch said.
The symptoms are fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin, tiredness, and dark urine. It can take 30 to 50 days for symptoms to appear.
The time you could have been exposed at the Cheesecake Factory is between December 13, 2011 and January 22, 2012.
"We're still within that window and unfortunately we're past the point where we can do any intervention," Fotsch said.
So right now he says it's just a wait and see situation.
If you have symptoms call your doctor. Those most at risk are children, pregnant woman, and the elderly.
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"It's usually transferred when someone infected hasn't properly washed their hands after going to the bathroom and then handles food or drinks," said Dave Fotsch, with the Central District Health Department.
In this case an employee at the Boise Cheesecake Factory had the disease and didn't realize it.
"The employee wasn't involved in food preparation, but did prepare drinks and serve plated food," Fotsch said.
Fotsch says that means the chance of others being exposed is small.
"We believe the employee practiced good hand hygiene and wasn't handling food with bare hands so the chances are pretty low but not zero," Fotsch said.
The symptoms are fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin, tiredness, and dark urine. It can take 30 to 50 days for symptoms to appear.
The time you could have been exposed at the Cheesecake Factory is between December 13, 2011 and January 22, 2012.
"We're still within that window and unfortunately we're past the point where we can do any intervention," Fotsch said.
So right now he says it's just a wait and see situation.
If you have symptoms call your doctor. Those most at risk are children, pregnant woman, and the elderly.
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