A historic CAPE COD restaurant has been struck by a very contagious virus epidemic of hepatitis A, warn health officials.
State health authorities warned this week that anyone who ate Red Inn in the rich provincetown, Massachusettsmay have been exposed to liver infection which is propagated by contaminated food and water.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that anyone who had eaten at the restaurant between April 30 and May 15 should Look for a doctor immediately.
An employee of food services working during this period was tested positive for the disease.
The ministry said that customers who thought they’ve been exposed in the past two weeks and have no symptoms could be treated with antibodies and a vaccine, which is 94% effective for several years.
The Red Inn is currently “open and safe at dinner”, and the restaurant “cooperates fully” with the health authorities, provinatown officials said in a statement.
No additional disease has been reported, and it is not known how many customers were exposed during this period.
The infected employee is “well revolutionary” and “remains without work” at the moment.
Red Inn clients (photo here) in Provincetown, Massachusetts, may have been exposed to a very contagious hepatitis
Provincetown, Massachusetts (photo here), is a tourist destination along CAPE COD where the average visitor earns more than $ 200,000 per year
Lezli Rowell, Director of the provincetown department of health, said: “According to my experience by inspecting the Red Inn over the years, this is not a problem of facilities.
“The staff are competent, trained in food security and is committed to best management practices, and the back of the house is first -rate.
“It is just an unhappy disease that came to an individual who would recover well and who remained without work until he was medically eliminated to resume the use of food manipulation.”
The Red Inn is a 200 -year -old restaurant and a hotel at the service of tourists at the rich destination of the COD, many of which earn $ 200,000 per year, more than double the national average, according to the research company.
THE CDC Considers that 180,000 Americans are struck by hepatitis each year, many of which have no symptoms, especially fever, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine and hives.
The disease spreads when the infected stool enters a person’s mouth, often by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
It can also spread through kisses, hugs, utensils or sex with an infected person.
Once the virus enters the body, it infects liver cells and causes inflammation. Most cases disappear alone without permanent damage, but this could take up to six months for symptoms to disappear entirely.
There is no treatment for disease other than the treatment of antibodies and vaccines within two weeks of exposure.
Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of infectious diseases of Boston Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said local news: “It is not the kind of disease as a typical food poisoning where you are sick for one or two days, then you are back to normal in a week.
“Usually people with hepatitis A, at least people who are diagnosed, have come out for two to three weeks, sometimes longer.”
In extremely rare cases – one in 5 million people – infection can be fatal due to severe liver insufficiency.
Massachusetts health officials urged people who may have been exposed to being vaccinated within two weeks, as the first dose is only effective for this period. A second dose six months later offers protection for several years and is 94%effective.
Dr. Sax said: “It is logical that people have vaccinated for hepatitis A. Our hepatitis A vaccine is one of the safest and most effective vaccines we have.”
