The Pinellas County Health Department recommends that customers who dined at the restaurant between June 4 and June 11 be vaccinated.

GULFPORT – The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has identified a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker in Gulfport.

DOH-Pinellas conducted an epidemiological investigation and Tuesday (June 18) determined that an individual who worked at Gulfport Family Restaurant, 2025 49th St. S, during June 4-11 may have been infectious.

If you consumed food from this restaurant during that period and have not previously been vaccinated for hepatitis A, you should receive the first dose of the hepatitis A immunization. The second dose is provided six months after the first. If you previously have received the hepatitis A vaccine, you do not need to take additional action.

“When a case’s infectious period coincides with a work timeframe that might expose the public to hepatitis A, we consider whether to do a patron notification,” said Dr. Ulyee Choe, director of DOH-Pinellas. “It’s not a step we take lightly, but it’s one that’s undertaken when it’s necessary to protect the health of the public, as with this one.”

Those with specific questions about exposure to hepatitis A at Gulfport Family Restaurant can call (727) 824-6932 to reach the epidemiology staff.

DOH-Pinellas is encouraging all healthcare providers, including hospital emergency departments to stay on high alert and immediately report cases to DOH-Pinellas.

DOH-Pinellas continues to offer the hepatitis A vaccine at no cost and without an appointment at these clinic locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays:

St. Petersburg: 205 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N
Pinellas Park: 6350 76th Ave. N
Mid-County (Largo): 8751 Ulmerton Road
Clearwater: 310 N Myrtle Ave.
Tarpon Springs: 301 S Disston Ave.

Contact your county’s health department for hepatitis A vaccinations if you live outside Pinellas. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A. People who should be  vaccinated for hepatitis A include:

All children at the age of 12 months
People who are experiencing homelessness
Users of recreational drugs, whether injected or not
Men who have sexual encounters with other men
People with direct contact with others who have hepatitis A
Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common
People with chronic or long-term liver disease, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C
People with clotting-factor disorders
Family and caregivers of adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that attacks the liver. People infected with hepatitis A are most contagious from two weeks before onset of symptoms to one week afterwards. Not everyone who is infected will have all the symptoms. Symptoms usually start within 28 days of exposure to the virus with a range of 15-50 days. Symptoms can include:

Jaundice (yellowing skin and whites of eyes)
Fever
Diarrhea
Fatigue/tired
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain
Dark-colored urine
Pale or clay colored stool

The hepatitis A vaccine is the best method of preventing infection. No medicines can cure the disease once symptoms appear. People with hepatitis A symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Most people get better over time but may need to be hospitalized. Previous infection with hepatitis A provides immunity for the rest of a person’s life. People who are exposed to hepatitis A may be given the vaccine or immune globulin within 14 days of exposure to prevent infection.

Go to PinellasHealth.com or call (727) 824-6900 for information about  DOH-Pinellas.

Pinellas Health Department | Hepatitis A | Health | Tampabay News | News Tampa

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