Rhode Island Department of Health

Hepatitis A
Frequently Asked Questions
January 26, 2007

What happened?
On January 24, the Department of Health was notified of a confirmed case of Hepatitis A in a restaurant employee of the Cheesecake Factory in Providence and the Texas Roadhouse in Cranston. The worker is currently receiving medical treatment and is recovering.

What is the Department of Health doing?
In order to ensure the safety of other employees, the Department of Health, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), decided to dispense preventive immune globulin shots to the employee's co-workers to prevent any of them from contracting the disease.

Will people who ate at either of the restaurants need to get immune globulin shots?
The Department of Health, in conjunction with the CDC does not recommend that the general public or people who ate at either of the restaurants get an immune globulin shot. Because the worker is not a food handler, there is no need for preventive measures for the public or for people who dined at the restaurants.

Co-workers of the infected person are getting an immune globulin shot because they may have had repeated contact with the infected person and because they are food service workers.

I work at one of the restaurants and have been out of town. Is it too late for me to get an immune globulin shot?
Immune globulin is most effective when administered prior to, or within 14 days of, exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, but may still provide some protection if given later.

I am a household contact of someone who works at one of these restaurants. Am I at risk?
No. The only people for whom immune globulin is recommended are food service co-workers of the infected individual.

What is Hepatitis A and what are the symptoms?
Hepatitis A is a disease that affects the liver and is caused by a virus. Hepatitis A is not common in Rhode Island. Most people who get it are sick for less than two months and then recover. You cannot get Hepatitis A again, and there is not chronic (long-term) infection. Symptoms include jaundice (yellow skin), abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, fever and fatigue. The disease is spread when people do not wash their hands well after going to the bathroom. The germs on their hands can spread to other people and cause infection. Anyone who has these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

How is Hepatitis A prevented?
Frequent hand washing and proper food handling are the best ways to prevent it. If people are exposed, immune globulin can also be given to provide protection.

Is it safe to eat at these restaurants?
Yes. Both restaurants are safe and open for business. There is no indication of risk to any restaurant patron in this incident.