Public health officials have issued a warning about a potential hepatitis A exposure at The Red Inn on Commercial Street in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The alert applies to anyone who ate at the restaurant between April 30 and May 15. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed that a food service worker at the restaurant was infected with the virus, according to Mass.gov.
Individuals who visited The Red Inn during this period are urged to contact a healthcare provider. Preventive treatment, such as the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin, is most effective if given within two weeks of exposure.
Hepatitis A can cause symptoms like fever, fatigue, and jaundice. Illness can range from mild cases lasting a few weeks to more severe cases lasting several weeks.
The virus spreads through the fecal-oral route, which includes close personal contact or consuming contaminated food. Proper handwashing is important in preventing further transmission.
The Department recommends washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, including the backs of hands, wrists, between fingers, and under fingernails. Although hepatitis A vaccination has been included in routine childhood immunizations since 1991, individuals should verify their vaccination status with a healthcare provider.
For questions or guidance, contact the Department of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800, available 24/7.
