Hepatitis A Exposure Possible At Gwinnett Eatery: Health Officials

LAWRENCEVILLE —Gwinnett County health officials are warning the customers of a Buford Drive restaurant after one of its servers was diagnosed with a hepatitis A infection.

The Gwinnett County Health Department said Wednesday customers who ate at Lolita's Bar and Grill between Oct. 24 and Nov. 7 may have been exposed to the viral infection after the server's diagnosis.

"Hepatitis A spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Hepatitis A can be spread when restaurant workers infected with hepatitis A don’t wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom," health officials said in a news release.

They encourage customers to contact their health-care provider or the local health department to see if a hepatitis A vaccine is needed to prevent illness. There is no out-of-pocket cost for people who receive the vaccine at the health department, health officials said.

Hepatitis A can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown-colored urine, light-colored stools and yellowing of the skin or eyes, health officials said.

Symptoms usually begin two to seven weeks after exposure and generally last less than two months; however, the infection can last as long as six months, health officials said.

Some people with severe symptoms of hepatitis A require hospitalization, health officials said.

Per the health department, anyone who consumed food or drink at Lolita’s in the allotted timeframe should:

1. Seek hepatitis A vaccination within 14 days of exposure if you have not previously been vaccinated for or had hepatitis A. If you have been vaccinated or have had hepatitis A previously, you are considered immune and do not need vaccine.
2. Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food.
3. Monitor your health for symptoms of hepatitis A infection up to 50 days after exposure.

"The restaurant has been cooperative with the health department’s investigation and has taken proactive measures, including scheduling immunizations for susceptible employees and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the restaurant. Education on prevention of Hepatitis A transmission has also been provided," health officials said in the release.

Anyone with questions can call the Gwinnett County Health Department, (770) 339-4260. Callers are instructed to press zero and ask to speak with the epidemiologist on call. An epidemiologist can also be reached after hours, (404) 323-1910 or (866)-782-4584.

Patch is working to get comment from the restaurant.