Health officials are warning the public about a potential Hepatitis A exposure from a Tim Hortons in Barrie, and a Toronto disease expert is weighing in on the seriousness of the illness.
A food handler working at the coffee shop, located at 181 Livingstone St. E., has been identified as a confirmed case of Hepatitis A, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported.
The agency says anyone who received food or drinks from the restaurant between May 17 to June 3 may have been exposed to the virus, although the risk of transmission to customers is low. SMDHU urges consumers to monitor for signs and symptoms which could onset 15 to 50 days after, and to contact a health-care provider if there are any developments.
The SMDHU also assures that there is no ongoing risk at the restaurant.
WHAT IS HEPATITIS A?
Infectious disease specialist with UHN Dr. Isaac Bogoch says the viral infection is quite common worldwide, with approximately 150 million new cases annually. Though the virus has an extremely low mortality rate (less than one per cent to be exact), he warns that adults can get very ill from it.
“Adults will feel awful with this infection,” Bogoch told Now Toronto on Monday.
“If kids get it, they might have no symptoms or very mild symptoms, so they can still be walking around, shedding virus and infecting other people.”
The virus causes inflammation to the liver, Bogoch explains, and common symptoms can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. He also notes that some people may contract jaundice, resulting in the yellowing of skin and in the white of the eye.
Bogoch says the virus is typically transmitted through direct contact with an infected person but it can also be contracted through indirectly eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The source of the illness? Fecal-oral contact, which he says is often spread by people not washing their hands properly after using the washroom.
A highly effective vaccine can prevent infection if administered within two weeks of exposure, Bogoch says, and can result in a lifetime of immunity from the virus. But if symptoms do appear, the best approach is staying hydrated with fluids and electrolytes, as the virus must run its course.
“Prevention is key. People with Hepatitis A should not be in a food handling position, because there’s the potential to infect others. You need impeccable hand hygiene,” Bogoch stresses.
“This will pass in the vast majority of people, but they’ll feel pretty crummy while they’re infected with it.”
