Hepatitis A exposure at Barrie Tim Hortons restaurant

A health unit north of Toronto is running special hepatitis A vaccination clinics this weekend, after a staff member at a popular eatery contracted the disease.

People who purchased food and drinks from a Tim Hortons in Barrie, ON in recent weeks may have been exposed to hepatitis A and are being advised to receive post-exposure vaccinations.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) confirmed that a food handler at a Tim Hortons located at 181 Livingstone St. E., Barrie, has been identified as contracting hepatitis A.

Anyone who came into contact with food or drinks at that location between May 17 and June 3 may have been exposed to the virus, the public health unit said, adding that there is no ongoing risk at the restaurant.

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Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that is spread through the consumption of fecal matter. It is primarily contracted through direct contact with an infected person, but can be passed on by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

While the risk for customers to contract the disease is low, SMDHU advises monitoring for signs and symptoms, which can begin 15 to 50 days after exposure.

Those who consumed food or beverages from this Tim Hortons in the last 14 days are recommended to receive the hepatitis A vaccine to help prevent the disease.

Individuals who have received two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine or have previously had hepatitis A infection will have immunity from the disease, and do not require further vaccination.

SMDHU is running a special hepatitis A immunization clinic in Barrie at 15 Sperling Dr. until Tuesday, June 17.