Sayak Banerjee, Amity University Kolkata
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease caused by hepatitis A virus mainly associated with liver infection. It is generally spread through contaminated food and water mostly when handled by the infectious person. Symptoms vary from minimal illness to severe sickness leading to hospitalization which might endure for several months. Affected adults have unexpected onset of symptoms like tiredness, nausea, low appetite, jaundice, dark urine, stomach ache and joint pain. Children below the age of 6 years of age have no symptoms or have an unidentified infection.
According to the Maine CDC, the customers of the restaurant, The Texas Roadhouse, in Bangor could have the possibility of contracting hepatitis A infection. They said that an employee, who was infected with the disease, had handled the food at the restaurant between October 16 to October 29, thus exposing the infection to the customers. The patrons being at risk for hepatitis A infection was ascertained from the analysis of the employee’s work duties and illness.
Any individual who may have eaten food made at the restaurant or worked there between that time period, including the ones who had delivery, dine-in, take-out or doorstep pickup of food from the restaurant have been suggested by the health officials to receive the hepatitis A vaccine within the 14-days window of their last subjection to decrease the probability of the disease. Those who stopped over the restaurant from October 16 to 18 do not fall under this window and are recommended to look for medical notice if any symptoms appear.
Upon the health officials’ consultations, the immunocompromised individuals and children below the age of 1 year who went to the restaurant during this time have been benefited with hepatitis A immune globulin (IG). The health officials are staying observant for hepatitis A infection in people showing symptoms.
Hepatitis A, different from hepatitis B or C, rarely causes liver failure and death which is only in individuals aged atleast 50 years. It usually leads to few weeks of sickness, however being vaccinated is the best method to prevent this disease.
Also read: DENMARK TO KILL UPTO 17 MILLION MINKS!
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/maine-restaurant-goers-warned-hepatitis-a-exposure
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