Health officials in California are warning diners who ate at a California restaurant run by a national fast food chain that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A.
LA County's Department of Public Health is investigating the possible spread of the highly infectious disease at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Monterey Park.
Customers who ate at the restaurant at 4000 Market Place Drive between November 13 and November 22 have been urgently asked to get a Hepatitis A vaccine if they aren't already immunized, as they may have been exposed.
"An employee of the restaurant was infected with the disease, which attacks the liver," confirmed a spokesperson for the chain. The restaurant later received a clean bill of health from health officials and was reopened on Wednesday night.
Cases of Hep A can range from mild to severe, and in some instances can be fatal. Symptoms include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools and diarrhea. Those infected are often sick for weeks but most will usually recover with no lasting damages.
Though there is no antiviral cure for it, getting a vaccine within 14 days of exposure can lessen the risk of infection.
The California warning comes after diners at a Milwaukee restaurant were strongly encouraged to receive a hepatitis A vaccine after being exposed to the virus by an infected employee. A manager who was actively infectious between October 31 and November 13 could have transmitted the virus if they came into contact with the diners' food or water.
"The restaurant Beans & Barley is cooperating with the City of Milwaukee Health Department to notify roughly 80 individuals who may have been exposed in that timeframe," explained Jim Neumeyer, co-owner. "There is no risk to individuals who ate there before October 31 or after November 13."
The person who became sick was identified as a manager who did not directly handle food but would sometimes hand out orders. The employee left work after noticing symptoms such as fever, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and hives and notified their superiors.
Milwaukee's Commissioner of Health Mike Totoraitis stated he is "very confident based on information that we have that the risk to the general public is very low."