Thousands Show Up For Hepatitis Clinic
WCVB TheBostonChannel.com
Thousands of people attended a clinic in Arlington Friday amid a Hepatitis A scare after an employee at a Friendly’s restaurant was diagnosed with the illness.
NewsCenter 5’s Jorge Quiroga reported that about 3,800 people ate at the restaurant during the two-week period that the infected employee was most contagious.
“I was a little anxious. We are a little nervous going in, but it will be OK,” resident Rhonda Zucco said.
“I just want to get in and get out. We are moving today. We have a lot to do,” resident Brian Daniel said.
“We look happy. We are really not. This whole thing is just pathetic. There are 500 people in front and 500 people in back, and they should know better than to run an establishment like that,” resident Toni Fentin said.
A worker at the restaurant, who was not using protective gloves, was diagnosed with the illness this week. Anyone who ate at the restaurant between June 4 and 15 was urged to get a shot against the virus.
“The effectiveness of the serum is only good for 14 days. So, if you ate at Friendly’s before June 4, and you had something that was served to you that was cold, this is not going to help you,” Arlington Fire Department Chief Wayne Springer said.
The restaurant remained closed for unrelated health code violations.
“The first presenting symptom is usually nausea and vomiting, fever, yellowing of the eyes and brown urine. So if any of those symptoms start to present, and you were at that Friendly’s restaurant prior to June 4, you should contact your primary care physician,” Springer said.
“I went through the window. I had no idea it was that dirty. We went to the window, we ordered ice cream and we left we had no idea,” resident Dawn Morella said.
Public health officials originally scheduled two sessions for the clinic, but decided not to take a midday break because of the large turnout. The clinic will stay open until 5 p.m.
There will be another clinic held on Monday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friendly’s is paying the tab for the shots.
