Vancouver Island’s Island Health organization has issued a public health notice regarding a potential hepatitis A exposure at a Dairy Queen restaurant in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada.
The alert pertains to customers who visited the Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Restaurant located at 1030 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay on September 10, 12, 13, or 14 between 5 pm and 9 pm Pacific Time. While the risk of transmission is considered low, Island Health has recommended precautionary action for potentially affected individuals.
As a preventive measure, those who ate at the restaurant during the specified dates and times are advised to receive a free hepatitis A vaccine. The vaccine is most effective when administered within 14 days of potential exposure. To facilitate this, the Comox Valley Health Unit in Courtenay is offering vaccination services without appointment, with extended hours including weekends to accommodate affected individuals.
Individuals who have previously contracted hepatitis A or received a complete vaccination series do not require additional immunization. However, all potentially exposed persons are encouraged to monitor themselves for symptoms, which can take two to seven weeks to manifest after exposure.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and results in severe liver disease and sickness. Inflammation not only damages the liver but also prevents other organs from working properly.
Unlike other diseases and illnesses, hepatitis A cannot be passed by casual, person to person transmission. Meaning, touching, sitting next to, or being coughed on by an infected person will not lead to an infection. Hepatitis A is instead spread as the result of contact with an infected person’s stool, which can happen in a number of ways:
- Consuming food prepared by an infected person that didn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom
- Drinking untreated water
- Placing something that has been in contact with an infected person’s stool in one’s mouth
Individuals showing no signs of infection are advised to continue their regular activities unless symptoms develop. However, if any signs of illness appear, it’s recommended to seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers of the potential hepatitis A exposure.
Commenting on this article, one national hepatitis A lawyer said, “Quick communication and preventative actions are critically important when managing potential disease outbreaks. In this case, the local health department has offered good guidance on what is currently known about the incident and, more importantly, how people who might have been exposed can vaccinate themselves to reduce the risk of infection.”
