Hepatitis scare at Auckland Mc's

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Hepatitis scare at Auckland Mc's

December 31, 2006 - 11:09AM

Twenty three people have called a help line after a hepatitis A scare at an Auckland Mc's restaurant caused by an infected worker.

The affected staff member was unaware they were infected when they worked a seven-hour shift at Mc's Greenlane restaurant starting at 7pm on Friday, December 15.

Customers of the restaurant on the night were yesterday advised to ring an Auckland Regional Public Health helpline if they had any concerns.

By 10am today the helpline had 23 calls but Dr Greg , Medical Officer of Health, said there have been no new notifications of hepatitis A cases.

He said the maximum incubation period was 50 days for the illness, so customers possibly exposed to the virus would develop signs of illness by the end of January.

The worker concerned was handling salad ingredients during their shift and was not wearing gloves placing those who ate salads and burgers most at risk.

Mc's spokeswoman Joanna Redfern-Hardisty said the worker was recovering well and no other workers had shown any symptoms.

The worker was not yet back on duty.

She did not know how many people had visited Mc's on Friday, December 15, but said it was quieter than normal.

Hepatitis is caused by a virus and Auckland Public Health says the symptoms are feeling unwell, tiredness and lack of energy, loss of appetite, stomach upsets and pains, mild fever, aches and pains, nausea and vomiting, dark urine and yellowing of skin and eyes.

Dr said the best way of preventing the spread of hepatitis A was by thorough hand hygiene - washing hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds and drying them for a further 20 seconds on a clean dry towel or disposable paper towels.

NZPA

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hepatitis-scare-at-auckland-mcdonalds/2006/12/31/1167499998754.html