The Multnomah County Health Department is looking into two confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in restaurant workers at two Cup & Saucer Cafe locations in Portland.
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It most often causes a temporary illness that can include: fever, tiredness, belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Hepatitis A spreads easily from person to person by swallowing the virus which is in the feces of an infected person. It can be spread by poor handwashing after using the toilet or changing diapers, or by eating food prepared by an infected person. It can also be spread by sexual contact. Hepatitis A is not spread by saliva. People can spread hepatitis A without realizing it.
If you think you have been exposed contact your healthcare provider.
- Multnomah County Health Department Primary Care – Concerned patients should call their clinic for instructions.
- Providence – Members concerned about possible exposure should call their clinic. If they have questions about their coverage, they should call Providence Health Plan at 503-574-7400.
- Kaiser Permanente – Members concerned about possible Hepatitis A exposure can contact the Kaiser advice nurse at 1-800-813-2000.
- Legacy – Patients with a Legacy primary care provider should contact their clinic. If you don’t currently have a primary care provider, call the 503-335-3500 for assistance.
Hepatitis A vaccine
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. There are vaccines that can lower the risk of getting sick if they are given within 2 weeks of coming in contact with the virus. Check with your provider about vaccine or other care options.
If you don’t have a provider or you can’t get into your provider in time, vaccines are available through the Multnomah County Immunization Clinic. Walk-in clinic hours are:
- April 5th, through April 7th, 9:00AM – 4:00PM
- April 8th, 10:00AM – 2:00PM
- April 10th, through April 12th, 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Also, you may be able to get the vaccine at your local pharmacy. Call them directly to find out more.
Hepatitis A is now a required vaccine for Oregon children up to 8th grade. So if your school-aged child is up to date on vaccinations, they are protected.
Related:
- Zika in US pregnant women: About 1 in 10 with confirmed infection had a fetus or baby with birth defects in 2016
- Measles in Nova Scotia: 13 confirmed cases
- Typhoid update: 16 confirmed cases in Auckland, Coleman ‘very unhappy’
- King County investigates another suspect hantavirus case in Issaquah resident
- Leprosy: Rare case reported in Iowa
Washing your hands after a bathroom visit is the best way to stop this disease. Of course you always have people that were not taught to take care of their health. I recall an incident like this in the early and mid 90’s in Memphis that got so bad that there were radio advertisements asking people that had dined at certain restaurants to be checked out by their physicians.
Sorry but being a ER Nurse for 30yrs this story reeks of falsification. There is nothing in this story of whether or not the Health Dept. had shut this place down, or what happened to the employee/employees at the establishment. I will be having this checked out with my own sources. I would suggest to others to contact the CDC before everyone starts getting alarmed. Check and double check, in this case triple check your info.
“Reeks of falsification”?
This is the exact press release from the Multnomah County Health Department