MECKLENBURG COUNTY HEPATITIS A CASE: SouthPark restaurant worker latest case of hepatitis A, officials say



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    SouthPark restaurant worker latest case of hepatitis A, officials say



CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Mecklenburg County Health Department has confirmed another case of hepatitis A.

[PAST COVERAGE: Mecklenburg Co. health department wraps up hepatitis A vaccinations following outbreak]

Health officials did not identify the person, who they said is a restaurant worker.

Officials said the possible hepatitis A exposure happened at Village Tavern on Congress Street on Oct. 30. All patrons who ate there on that day are recommended to get the hepatitis A vaccine.

[CDC: Hepatitis A information]

“After consulting with the state today, we are recommending a vaccination for all employees and exposed patrons who ate at Village Tavern located at 4201 Congress Street on Tuesday, Oct. 30,” Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, the vaccine must be given within 14 days of exposure for it to be effective.”

 

BREAKING: The possible Hep A exposure was at Village Tavern on Congress St on Oct 30, per source. All patrons who ate there on that day are recommended to get a Hep A vaccine. There are 24 cases of Hep A in the county. Presser at 1:30 @wsoctv

— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) November 8, 2018

 

Vaccinations for the 150 customers who may have been exposed and for residents who meet the high-risk factors for hepatitis A will be administered at the Mecklenburg County Health Department on Billingsley Road.

Below are the times the public health vaccination clinics will be open:

  • Thursday, Nov. 8: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 9: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 10: 9 a.m. – Noon
  • Sunday, Nov. 11: 9 a.m. – Noon
  • Monday, Nov. 12: 9 a.m. – Noon
  • Tuesday, Nov. 13: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

The Village Tavern said it has been working with the North Carolina Department of Health since the server was diagnosed with hepatitis A.

“Yesterday, we were notified by the North Carolina Department of Health of this situation and are taking precautionary steps to protect our other employees and our customers,” said Tony Santarelli, president and CEO of The Village Tavern, Inc. “The employee was not aware or showing symptoms the day he reported to work, and we are not aware of anyone getting sick or this employee infecting anyone. That said, food safety and personal hygiene are of the greatest importance in all of our restaurants, so we are proactively taking every step necessary to ensure the well-being of our employees and guests.”

“All of our SouthPark employees are being vaccinated within the next 24 hours, per the recommendation of nurses at the Communicable Disease Department,” Santarelli said. “We also encourage our customers who dined with us on Oct. 30 to be vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Officials with the restaurant said the SouthPark location has been inspected multiple times over the past 24 hours and it was found to be in full compliance.

Channel 9 found that the Village Tavern was inspected by the Health Department on Sept. 21 and scored an 87. The restaurant was inspected again on Oct. 10 and received a 92.5.

This is the 24th case of hepatitis A reported in the county since the beginning of the year.

In June, health officials said a Hardee’s employee in west Charlotte was diagnosed with the virus.


PAST COVERAGE:


Thousands of people were warned to get a vaccine after they ate at the Hardee’s restaurant where the employee worked.

To read more about the hepatitis A outbreak in Mecklenburg County click here.

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© 2018 Cox Media Group.



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