Customers of two Edo Japan eateries in the Edmonton area
were warned Tuesday they may have been exposed to hepatitis A last month
after a food handler at the outlets tested positive for the illness.
Alberta Health Services said the risk of transmission to customers is low, but issued a public health alert as a precaution.
The Edo outlets are at the Manning Town Centre, 15426 37
St., in Edmonton, and Tudor Glen South, 3510 Tudor Glen Market, in St.
Albert. Patrons who ate at either location between June 13-18 and June
21-28 may have been exposed, AHS said.
“We did do an inspection of them and … their food
handling practices were excellent,” said Dr. Joanna Oda, medical officer
of health for the Edmonton Zone. “We do believe that reduces the risk
of transmission in this case. “
She said both outlets have now been declared safe, after they were thoroughly cleaned and inspected.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. Infected
people typically pass it to others through direct contact, but can also
contaminate food and water if they fail to properly wash their hands
after using the bathroom.
The illness usually shows up about four weeks after exposure, but can occur anywhere between 15 and 50 days. A person can be infectious for one to two weeks prior to showing any symptoms.
Hepatitis A usually goes away on its own, though long-term
liver problems can happen in rare cases.
There is no specific
treatment, but the illness can be prevented with an appropriate series
of vaccine treatments.
In this case, the infected Edo worker acquired the illness while travelling outside Canada.
Oda said customers who ate at the Edo outlets should
monitor themselves and their family members for symptoms until Aug. 17,
rather than seeking a test.
“That includes things like poor appetite, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice, which is dark urine and yellowing of
the skin and eyes,” Oda said. “If they develop any of those symptoms, we
ask them to call HeathLink (811) or visit their family doctor.”
She said AHS does not have an estimate of the number of Edo customers who may have been exposed.
Alberta typically records about 30 hepatitis A infections
each year, slightly more than half of which are acquired outside the
province.
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/health-warning-issued-after-edo-japan-worker-tests-positive-for-hepatitis-a
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