The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health has received more hepatitis A vaccine and will be offering it in its clinic to patrons of the 800 Degree Three Fires restaurant who still need vaccinated.
Any person who still needs the vaccination is asked to make an appointment with the department’s Immunization Clinic at 4813 New Haven Avenue. The number to call is (260) 449-7514. The vaccine will be given free of charge while supplies last. The Immunization Clinic will be open Tuesday until 7 p.m. to provide the vaccinations. This is by appointment only.
A food worker at the 800 Degrees Three Fires restaurant at 5125 Illinois Road has tested positive for hepatitis A. None of the other employees have hepatitis A symptoms, and so far, no other cases have been identified.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus that attacks the liver, causing fever, nausea, abdominal pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).It is spread through exposure to the fecal matter of an infected person, either through close person-to-person contact or through contaminated food or water. There is no specific treatment once symptoms appear, but a vaccination can help lessen the effects of the disease if given within 14 days of exposure.
Patrons who dined or had carry-out from the restaurant between May 21 and May 26, 2013 can still benefit from the vaccination and should make an appointment. Patrons who dined before May 20 are now outside the window of vaccine effectiveness and should instead monitor themselves for symptoms of hepatitis and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.