Confirmed hepatitis A case prompts public alert in Edmonton Zone

EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a case of hepatitis A in a food handler working at two Edmonton Zone restaurants inside the Edmonton International Airport: Belgian Beer Café (1000 Airport Rd) and Boston Pizza (1000 Airport Rd).

Individuals in Alberta who consumed food or drink purchased from the above locations between the below dates and times may have been exposed to hepatitis A and should:

• Call Health Link at 1-888-851-1919 immediately. Health Link staff will assess your exposure risk and help book you in for a preventive hepatitis A vaccine if you are eligible. A vaccine, given after exposure, can prevent development of hepatitis A illness.
• Monitor for symptoms for 50 days after potential exposure.

If you live outside of Alberta and were potentially exposed, please contact your local public health office for assistance.

Dates of potential exposure:

• Belgian Beer Café (1000 Airport Rd, Edmonton International Airport)
• October 5 from 2-9 p.m.
• October 7, 8 or 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• October 12 from 1-8 p.m.

Boston Pizza (1000 Airport Rd, Edmonton International Airport)

• October 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• October 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• October 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Preventive immunization:

Individuals who call Health Link at 1-888-851-1919 will be advised of eligibility for immunization. Immunization can only be provided within 14 days after an exposure and can prevent illness from occurring. Individuals who have already been infected with hepatitis A or received their hepatitis A vaccine series are not at risk from this exposure.

Monitor for Symptoms:

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed is also advised to monitor for symptoms of hepatitis A for up to 50 days after they last ate at either restaurant, as illness can occur from 15 to 50 days after exposure. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus.

Symptoms include tiredness, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, dark-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, and yellowing of eyes and skin. Some people, especially young children, may get hepatitis A infection without noticing any symptoms; however, they are still infectious to others.

Exposed individuals who develop symptoms during the above timeframe are advised to immediately contact Health Link at 811 for assessment and to prevent further spread of disease.

“There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but it can be prevented through immunization. For more information visit Hepatitis A (HAV) Vaccine. We also always encourage proper hand hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of communicable illness,” says Dr. Michael Zakhary, Edmonton Zone Medical Officer of Health.

“There is no ongoing risk of infection associated with either restaurant and this case is not a risk to the greater general public. Public Health inspectors have visited and spoken with the operators of the restaurants to review food safety practices and the locations are safe to operate,” adds Dr. Zakhary.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.