Potential Exposure to Hepatitis A at Salt Lake Restaurant, Authorities Say

SALT LAKE CITY – Guests who ate at the New Yorker restaurant in Salt Lake City from July 25 to August 15 may have been exposed to hepatitis A, health officials said.

Nicholas Rupp, spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Health Department, said in an email that an infected employee of the restaurant, located at 60 West Street Market, was contagious and was handling certain foods or beverages .

The possible exposure only affects the New Yorker restaurant, said Rupp. Officials estimate that about 650 people were able to be exposed.

"It is too late for people who have consumed items at the restaurant between the dates indicated to receive a preventive vaccination, so these people must monitor the symptoms of hepatitis A and consult their health care provider," he said. declared Rupp.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease that can be transmitted from person to person or through contaminated food or drink, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include low fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and yellow skin and eyes, health officials said. With the incubation period of the virus being two to seven weeks, potentially affected clients must monitor the symptoms until October 3.

People who are fully vaccinated against the virus are protected, according to the Department of Health. In July 2002, Utah began asking for hepatitis A vaccination for children entering kindergarten. Thus, those who started attending kindergarten during or after the 2002-2003 school year are probably already vaccinated.

Authorities believe that this possible exposure is related to the ongoing hepatitis A epidemic since mid-2017.

"The New Yorker Restaurant is cooperating fully with the health department's investigation and response and, since discovering the possibility of an exhibition, has cleaned up the affected restoration areas, according to the recommendations of the Department of Health. health, "said Rupp.

The restaurant offered its employees the vaccine against hepatitis A before eventual exposure, but the infected employee chose not to receive it, Rupp said. Vaccination is not required for food workers unless the facility has an employee exposed to the virus, according to the Department of Health. All New Yorker employees must now be vaccinated before returning to work.

"Other eating establishments should also consider asking for their employees to be vaccinated against hepatitis A," said Dr. Dagmar Vitek, the department's medical director, in an email. "The cost of vaccination is minimal compared to the cost of possible exposure in your facility."

Potentially affected customers with specific questions may call the health department at 385-468-4636.