The owner says that an employee infected with hepatitis A no longer works at Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – Health officials in Pinellas County found a case of hepatitis A at a popular sports bar in downtown St. Petersburg earlier this month.

A Fergus Sports Bar restaurant employee on Central Avenue reported jaundice, a symptom of hepatitis A. Health officials visited the sports bar on April 18th.

"We received a phone call and the health department wanted to see all of our employee records, a timesheet indicating when they were working, and asked them to prepare them for us – they would not say why," he said. Mark Ferguson, owner of Ferg's Sports. Bar.

The employee infected with hepatitis A did not have contact with food and worked on the management of the dishwasher. Ferguson said the health officials had interviewed all employees and no one else had symptoms, and health officials had inspected the building.

"All of my employees have been killed, including myself and all of my staff, so I'm very happy about that, and I'm encouraging everyone to do it." There is currently a surge in the region of Tampa Bay, "said Ferguson.

According to the website of the Ministry of Health, cases of hepatitis A in 2019 across the state have already overtaken those of 2018. In 2019, 954 cases of hepatitis A have been reported throughout the state. In 2018, 549 cases were reported at the state level.

Since 2018, more than 7,000 vaccines have been distributed in Pinellas County at events and outreach clinics, according to the County of Pinellas Health Department.

Dr. Michael Patch, an Adventist emergency physician, said that hepatitis A could be treated and that it spread by consuming contaminated raw or uncooked food.

"Thus, uncooked fruits and vegetables or unpeeled shellfish such as raw oysters, or any food source in contact with the virus, is usually transmitted by the faecal route, which means that stools come in. It's very contagious in this scenario. "said Dr. Patch.

According to the CDC, most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, stomach pain.

"You may have nausea, vomiting and a feeling of weakness.After about a week of treatment, you start having very dark urine, abdominal pain, you can even yellow your skin and your eyes it could also be a sign "said Dr. Patch.

Ferg's employees will receive training on hepatitis A next month and how it will spread. All employees were vaccinated.

"There are so many waves in the restaurant business.We have a lot of worries, but it's a great one.We want to make sure that everyone is safe and that it is safe at Fern's Sports Bar, "Ferguson said.