Department of Health

Case of hepatitis A linked to city restaurant

22/03/18
Published by Department of Health & Human Services

Patrons of a city restaurant should be aware of the symptoms to hepatitis A following the identification of the illness in a food handler.

Senior public health physician Dr Finn Romanes said the man who works at Cumulus Inc at 45 Flinders Lane had his diagnosis notified to the department late yesterday.

"Anyone who ate food from the restaurant between February 26 and March 19 should visit their GP for a free hepatitis A vaccine, should look out for symptoms and seek urgent medical attention if unwell.

"The symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort, dark urine, yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).

"Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that occurs when the virus is taken ingested. The virus then infects the liver and is passed in the faeces.

"Based on the incubation of this virus we could see additional cases in people who were exposed, with symptoms beginning 15-50 days later.

"An extensive clean-up of the restaurant is being conducted in accordance with our guidelines.

"We are getting the details of people who booked at the restaurant from February 26 and will be making contact with them. People who know they have eaten there up until March 19 should seek a hepatitis A vaccine and monitor their health.

"Information about hepatitis A has been provided to other workers at the restaurant and they are being offered vaccinations. None has reported any illness.

People with hepatitis A can pass the disease on to others from about two weeks before they begin to feel sick until one week after the appearance of jaundice.

The virus is found in the faeces of an infected person. Their hands can carry the virus after using the toilet and it could spread by direct contact or by food, beverages and other objects such as cups and spoons.

It is extremely important that food handlers practise good personal hygiene at all times. This means washing hands thoroughly in soap and running water after visiting the toilet, before eating and before handling food.

For further information visit the Better Health ChannelExternal Link .

Reviewed 22 March 2018

Health.vic

Contact details

Bram Alexander Department of Health Media Unit

Mobile phone 0412 260 811
bram.alexander@health.vic.gov.au
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