Birmingham Social Kitchen Patrons Need Hepatitis A Shot

August 11, 2016, 2:34 PM by  Allan Lengel

Update, 2:30 p.m. Thursday: Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said Thursday that customers at the Social Kitchen and Bar at 225 E. Maple Road in Birmingham should quickly get a Hepatitis A shot if they had food or beverage there between July 27 and Aug. 6.

The recommendation comes as a result of an employee who contracted the Hepatitis A virus.

Wells said customers may have been exposed to the virus as early as July 16. However, a vaccine is only effective for those exposed in the past two weeks.

Customers should look out for  symptoms which may include a sudden onset of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, tiredness, loss of appetite and/or headache followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes.

In most cases, people fully recover with the right amount of rest and proper diet.

According to the Oakland County Health Department, is most often spread by food contaminated by fecal matter from a sick person. Outbreaks may be due to water or food being contaminated with feces; or eating raw or undercooked shellfish, taken from waters contaminated with the virus.

Original article, Thursday morning:

Eating at any restaurant has risks. This one is rare, but big: Exposure to the Hepatitis A virus.

Local health authorities have identified the Hepatitis A infection in a food service worker at the Social Kitchen and Bar at 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, according to a press release by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The food service worker is a resident of Wayne County and remains an employee, but won't return to work until cleared by a physician, the Detroit Free Press reports.

“The safety of our patrons and employees is always our highest priority,” said Leslie Pardo, senior vice president of Marx Layne and Company, representing the restaurant, according to the Oakland Press.

“An employee at Social Kitchen and Bar was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on August 6. Immediately upon learning of the diagnosis, we contacted the Health Department. Fortunately, no one else has reported any illness. On August 8, the Health Department inspected the restaurant and authorized us to remain open. The restaurant is 100 percent compliant with Health Department regulations and will continue to maintain the highest food safety standards.”

A press release from the state says:

Persons who consumed any food or drinks at this food establishment between July 16, 2016, and Aug. 6, 2016, may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. Patrons should monitor for symptoms of Hepatitis A infection which include sudden onset of abdominal discomfort, dark urine, fever, diarrhea, and yellow skin and eyes.  Oakland County Health Division is conducting outreach to restaurant employees to recommend prophylaxis treatment.

Hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (IG) may provide protection against the disease if given within two weeks after exposure. Therefore, those who consumed food or beverage at the restaurant between July 27, 2016, and Aug. 6, 2016, should promptly contact their healthcare provider to receive vaccination. Hepatitis A vaccine may be available at some major pharmacies in Michigan.  People who have had Hepatitis A disease or previously received two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine do not need to be immunized for Hepatitis A again.

Time from exposure to onset of illness (incubation period) is typically 15 to 50 days. Duration of illness typically lasts several weeks to several months. Treatment of Hepatitis A is supportive, and most people will recover without complications.



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