Boulder County Public Health in Colorado has issued a public health notification regarding potential hepatitis A exposure at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, located at 1101 Walnut Street in Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall.
The exposure risk is specifically linked to beverages containing fresh juice served on December 30, 2023, and January 5, 2024 and include the following drinks:
- Plain fresh squeezed OJ
- Mimosa with fresh squeezed OJ
- Michelada with fresh lime juice
- Mimosarita with fresh squeezed OJ
- Big Tex margarita with fresh lemon and lime juice
- Barrel-Aged Big Tex margarita with fresh lemon and lime juice
- Special reserve coin margarita with fresh lime juice
- Silver coin margarita with fresh lime juice
- Fresh jalapeño margarita with fresh lime juice
- Skinny margarita with fresh lime juice
- Kendall’s skinny margarita with fresh lime juice
- Agave martini with fresh lemon and lime juice
- Mezcal margarita with lemon and lime juice
Health officials have clarified that drinks served on other dates or those without fresh-squeezed juices are not considered at risk.
For individuals who consumed these beverages on January 5, health officials recommend receiving a hepatitis A vaccine before Sunday if they are not currently vaccinated. Boulder County Public Health is offering these vaccinations at no cost to affected customers.
Those who consumed the specified beverages on December 30 are advised to monitor for symptoms over the next four weeks, as the window for preventive vaccination has passed for this exposure date.
The health department has confirmed that there is no ongoing public health risk, citing swift cooperation with the restaurant to ensure staff and patron safety. The exposure was isolated to this single location.
Hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection, primarily spreads through fecal-oral transmission.
The virus typically presents symptoms two to six weeks after exposure, with effects potentially lasting from several weeks to months. Key symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), dark urine, clay-colored stools, fatigue, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Boulder County Public Health said that anyone experiencing symptoms who may have been exposed should seek immediate medical attention from their healthcare provider.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading Hepatitis A lawyer said, “Anyone who consumed these drinks during the period in question, and who has not been previously vaccinated against Hepatitis A, should visit their doctor immediately to receive the vaccine and protect themselves.”
