CARIBOU, Maine — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Caribou food service worker.
On Friday, May 17, the CDC sent out a notice that an individual who prepared food at the Burger Boy Restaurant in Caribou from April 24 through May 13 was infectious. An assessment of his illness revealed that restaurant patrons may also be at risk for hepatitis A infection.
The CDC says that anyone with who visited or worked at the restaurant between May 3 and May 13 should receive the hepatitis A vaccine by Monday, May 27.
There is a 2-week window people can take to try to prevent the disease, according to the CDC.
Anyone who visited the restaurant from April 24 to May 2 is outside of this window for prevention, but the CDC says they should still watch for symptoms and seek medical attention if any symptoms develop.
The CDC says that individuals with compromised immune systems or children under 12 months old who visited the restaurant during this period of time may benefit from hepatitis A immune globulin, upon consultation with their health care providers.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, contagious liver disease, caused by the hepatitis A virus.
Symptoms range from mild illness to severe sickness that can require hospitalization and last for several months.
Most adults with the virus have a sudden onset of symptoms, including tiredness, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, dark urine, and jaundice. Children under six years old typically do not have symptoms or show signs of an unrecognized infection.
Symptoms tend to begin to show 15 to 50 days after a person is exposed to the virus.
Hepatitis A can be spread through contaminated food or water, especially when the person preparing it is infected. An infected person can spread the virus to other people about two weeks before symptoms start and up until one week after symptoms end.
The CDC says that the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.
For more information on hepatitis A, click here.