I have lost track of how many times I have implored restaurants to offer Hepatitis A vaccines to their employees.  Here was my latest:

And, now here are the consequences:

Publisher’s Platform: Vaccinate restaurant employees against hepatitis A or suffer the consequences

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The Virginia Department of Health says the number of total people linked to three Famous Anthony’s restaurants infected with hepatitis A has increased to 14.

According to press reports, Dr. Cynthia Morrow with the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCADH) spoke about the hepatitis A exposure situation during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Morrow says they reported four more cases of the virus associated with Famous Anthony’s restaurant chain. At least three of the people have been hospitalized.

Health officials first reported the exposure outbreak on Friday, Sept. 24. VDH says that a person who worked at three different Famous Anthony’s locations tested positive for the highly contagious infection.

Health officials say that anyone who visited any of the following Famous Anthony’s locations between Aug. 10 and Aug. 26 could have been exposed:

  • 4913 Grandin Road
  • 6499 Williamson Road
  • 2221 Crystal Spring Avenue

According to the VDH, if you have been exposed and are not vaccinated against hepatitis A (vaccines most effective within two weeks of exposure, you should monitor yourself for the symptoms listed below:

  • jaundice: (yellowing of the skin or the eyes),
  • fever,
  • fatigue,
  • loss of appetite,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • abdominal pain,
  • dark urine, or
  • light-colored stools.

Symptoms can develop between 15 to 50 days following exposure. If you develop any of these systems seek medical care or let your healthcare provider know about your possible exposure.