Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a public health alert following confirmation of a hepatitis A case in a food handler at Meltwich Kensington in Calgary. The employee worked at the 405, 10 Street NW location while infectious, potentially exposing customers who visited between February 2 and February 19, 2025.
Health officials are offering post-exposure immunization for eligible individuals who consumed food or beverages at the restaurant between February 6 and February 19. These preventive vaccinations must be administered within 14 days of exposure to be effective. Affected customers are urged to contact Health Link at 1-866-301-2668 for exposure assessment and vaccination scheduling information. Special immunization clinics will be established in Calgary to accommodate eligible individuals.
For those who visited the restaurant between February 2 and 5, the window for preventive immunization has passed. These individuals should monitor themselves for symptoms over the next 50 days and seek medical attention if any develop. The monitoring period applies to all exposed individuals who do not receive the preventive vaccine.
The post-exposure vaccination schedule varies based on the date of potential exposure. For example, customers who visited on February 6 must receive the vaccine by February 20, while those exposed on February 19 have until March 5 to get vaccinated. A single dose provides sufficient protection against this specific exposure.
Hepatitis A symptoms typically include fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Later stages may present with dark urine, light-colored stools, and yellowing of the eyes and skin. While some individuals, particularly young children, may be asymptomatic, they can still transmit the virus to others.
The virus spreads through the fecal-oral route, primarily through direct contact with infected individuals or by consuming contaminated food or water. Proper hand hygiene after using the bathroom is crucial in preventing transmission, especially for food service workers. When infected individuals don’t follow proper hand washing protocols, the virus can contaminate food and beverages they prepare.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading hepatitis A lawyer said, “Fortunately, the provincial health authority is working with the affected restaurant, which should reduce the risk of further exposure to the public.”
