Possible HAV exposure occurs at New Jersey restaurant

New Jersey health officials warned that patrons of a local restaurant may have been exposed to hepatitis A after a provisional employee was hospitalized with the disease.

In a press conference held today, Jeffrey J. Plunkett, a health official in Hamilton Township, advised anyone who ate food from Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering between Nov. 10 and Dec. 1 to consult their primary care physician for HAV vaccination options. Town officials also announced a clinic for residents to purchase the vaccine at cost.

The infected employee last worked at the restaurant on Nov. 24. He became seriously ill the next day and was hospitalized, but is expected to recover.

Upon receiving notification the restaurant ceased operations to allow it to discard opened food items, sanitize food areas and bring in outside staff unexposed to the infected employee, restaurant owners wrote in a Facebook post on Dec. 1. Plunkett said the restaurant reopened later the same day.

Rosa’s caters lunches for St. Raphael-Holy Angels, an elementary school located nearby. Although Plunkett said he was confident in the meals provided today, parents of the 15% to 20% of students who have not been vaccinated against HAV will be contacted by the school’s nurse.

This incident is similar to one in Missouri last May, when a Red Robin restaurant employee was diagnosed with HAV.

According to the CDC, the incubation period of HAV is approximately 28 days. Vaccine administration within 2 weeks of exposure can prevent illness.