Health officials in Provincetown, Massachusetts, issued an alert on Saturday regarding possible exposure to hepatitis A after a food service worker was found to be infected. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), along with the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and the Provincetown Board of Health, advised anyone who had dined at The Red Inn, located at 15 Commercial St., between April 30 and May 15, to reach out to their healthcare provider as they may have been exposed to the virus.
The DPH confirmed that the infected worker was on duty during that time frame. Given the highly contagious nature of hepatitis A, the DPH strongly recommended that any potentially exposed customers seek medical advice promptly.
Preventive measures against the virus include the hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis A immune globulin, but these are typically effective only if administered within two weeks of exposure and before symptoms appear.
Early signs of hepatitis A can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice, which is characterized by dark urine or yellowing of the skin and eyes. The severity of hepatitis A can range; mild cases often last less than two weeks, while more severe cases can persist for four to six weeks or even longer.
Interestingly, some individuals, especially children, may not show jaundice and could have such mild symptoms that they go unnoticed. Still, the DPH pointed out that even individuals with mild symptoms can be contagious. Therefore, anyone experiencing symptoms like those related to hepatitis should consult a healthcare provider, no matter how mild the symptoms seem.
Hepatitis A spreads through food handling and can be transmitted via contaminated food and drinks. The DPH recommends thorough handwashing for anyone who dined at The Red Inn during the specified dates to prevent any further transmission of the virus.
