Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a public health alert after confirming a case of hepatitis A in a food handler at Tim Hortons Milbourne Market Mall in Edmonton, Canada. The employee was preparing food while infectious, potentially exposing customers to the virus.
Anyone who consumed food or beverages from this location between February 20, 2025 and March 5, 2025 may have been exposed to hepatitis A.
For those who visited the restaurant between March 3 and March 5, there is still time to receive preventative treatment. Post-exposure immunization can effectively prevent illness if administered within 14 days of exposure.
Affected individuals should contact Health Link at 1-866-301-2668 for exposure assessment and risk evaluation. Special immunization clinics are being organized in Edmonton for eligible patrons.
The timing of immunization is critical. Customers who consumed food or drinks on March 3 must receive the vaccination by March 17. Those who visited on March 4 have until March 18, while March 5 visitors must be immunized by March 18.
Unfortunately, individuals who visited the restaurant between February 20 and March 2 are no longer eligible for preventative immunization as the 14-day window has passed. These customers are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms over the next 50 days after their potential exposure date and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Hepatitis A symptoms typically include fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. As the infection progresses, patients may notice dark urine, light-colored stools, and yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice). Health officials note that some infected individuals, particularly young children, may not display symptoms despite being contagious.
The virus affects the liver and spreads through the fecal-oral route. Transmission occurs primarily through direct contact with an infected person or indirectly through contaminated food and water. When infected food handlers don’t practice proper handwashing after using the bathroom, they can transfer the virus to food and beverages during preparation.
AHS said that a single dose of the vaccine provided at the immunization clinics will be sufficient to protect potentially affected individuals from this specific hepatitis A exposure. Those unable to receive the immunization should remain on alert for symptoms and contact their healthcare provider if concerned.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading hepatitis A lawyer said, “A hepatitis A infection has the potential to severely damage the liver. Any customer who ate at this location, and still qualifies for a post-exposure vaccination, should seek one out immediately.”
