County plans shots for recent Trevi customers
by Andre A. Rodriguez, ARODRIGUEZ@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
August 29, 2006
ASHEVILLE — The Buncombe County Health Center on Monday confirmed a case of hepatitis A in restaurant worker, setting in motion plans to give up to 1,300 preventive shots to head off any chance of an outbreak.
The center urged that anyone who has eaten at Trevi Pasta Seafood & Pizza restaurant from Aug. 17 to Friday get an immune globulin shot. The shots will be offered free beginning today.
“Contacting these individuals is critical because immune globulin, a serum which can prevent or reduce symptoms of hepatitis A, must be given within two weeks after exposure,” Medical Director Dr. Susan Mims said.
“We are taking every possible precaution to prevent a major outbreak,” she said.
The infected worker is not currently working at the restaurant.
Owners of the popular restaurant in Biltmore Village could not be reached Monday evening.
The Health Center said the business is cooperating in the investigation and has consistently maintained a grade A sanitation rating.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver cause by a virus. It is spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the virus, the Health Center said.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and dark urine.
Children often show no symptoms. Adults can be ill for three to four weeks.
A hepatitis A outbreak that infected 16 people in 2003 was suspected to have come from tainted produce at two Asheville restaurants. More than 3,600 people flooded the center for the shots.
The health department is offering shots at the Health Center on 35 Woodfin St. in Asheville from 3 to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday.
The health center also recommended that physicians report suspected cases of hepatitis right away. A second case was also confirmed Monday.
Contact Andre A. Rodriguez at 828-452-1467 or via e-mail at arodriguez@citizen-times.com.