Bartholomew County Health Department officials have received 1,000 hepatitis A vaccines in preparation for an immunization clinic for customers who may have eaten at Amazing Joe’s restaurant in Columbus in late April.
The restaurant, at 2607 Central Ave., closed Wednesday to have all surfaces in the facility sanitized after the health department was notified that a female Amazing Joe employee, who has described herself as a bartender and server on social media, was exhibiting hepatitis A symptoms while working there in April.
While it is relatively rare for restaurant patrons to become infected with hepatitis A due to an infected food handler, Bartholomew County Health Department administrator Collis Mayfield said that anyone who consumed food or drink at the restaurant on April 22 and April 24-26 should consider being vaccinated at a free clinic planned for Monday.
A vaccination clinic will be from noon to 6 p.m. Monday at the FairOaks Mall at the old Toys-R-Us storefront, 2380 25th St., where those who might be impacted may receive a free vaccination for potential exposure to hepatitis A. Vaccine must be administered within two weeks after the last day of exposure, according to the health department.
Anyone who can’t attend the clinic is asked to contact their personal medical provider.
Anyone who consumed food and/or drink at Amazing Joe’s on April 17 through 22 is advised to monitor symptoms for hepatitis A infection up to 50 days after exposure, as the vaccine will not be effective in preventing illness for anyone exposed more than 14 days ago, the health department said.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown-colored urine, and light-colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes may also occur, according to the health department.
The virus spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of feces from an infected person, the health department said.
The virus spreads when an infected person does not wash his or her hands adequately after using the toilet or engages in behaviors that increase risk of infection, the health department said.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
