Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a public alert after an employee who handled food at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton was found to have hepatitis A.
Patients, visitors and staff who ate food from the cafeteria between Feb. 26 and March 10, March 13 to March 18 or inpatients who had food delivered to their rooms on Feb. 26 and 27 or March 1,3,4,7 and 15 may have been exposed to the infection.
“As a precaution, anyone who consumed food or drink from the cafeteria is advised to monitor themselves and their family for symptoms for 50 days after their last exposure, which may be up to and including May 7, 2018,” said Dr. Jasmine Hasselback, medical officer of health for the Edmonton zone in a release on Thursday.
The agency said there is no ongoing threat of infection associated with the cafeteria, saying it has been cleaned, inspected and approved as safe to operate by AHS inspectors.
“We are working closely with AHS to support our patients and our staff, physicians and volunteers at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital to address their concerns and respond to this situation,” Grey Nuns senior operating officer Karen Macmillan said.
Hepatitis A immunization provided after exposure can often prevent the illness from occurring, but AHS said it is only effective if provided within two weeks after exposure.
Information regarding hepatitis A immunization clinics can be found here.
Comments