Hepatitis A Scare in NYC, Officials Urge Patrons of Restaurant to get Vaccinated

Patrons who ate at a restaurant in New York City have been asked to get themselves vaccinated against Hepatitis A, after a food handler at Alta restaurant in the West Village was diagnosed with the disease.

The announcement came from the city's Health Department Friday.

"We are asking these restaurant patrons to get this vaccination as a precautionary measure," said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley in a statement. "If people experience symptoms, they should see a doctor immediately. This incident serves as an important reminder to always wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease."

People who have eaten at the restaurant between March 23 and April 2 have been considered to be at risk. Restaurant owners said that about 3,000 people visited the place, and that about 15 percent of them may have eaten the dessert.

The Health Department said that it is trying to locate all the individuals who may have been exposed to the contaminated food.

Hepatitis A is caused by the Hepatitis A virus and is a liver disease. People suffering from the infection can have a mild disease that lasts a couple of weeks, to a severe disease that stretches out for months. The disease spreads through fecal matter that has the virus, according to Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention. The agency says that the best protection against the disease is to get vaccinated.

There is no medicine that could treat the person who has been infected with the disease. People with severe infection may need to be hospitalized, and the disease isn't fatal. Vaccination works best when given within 14 days of the exposure, said the city's Health Department.

"We are working closely with the Health Department to ensure the safety of our customers. This is an isolated incident and the infected employee is no longer on premises," said Christopher Chesnutt, owner of Alta restaurant.