Health Warning Issued After Hepatitis A Case Confirmed at Downtown Boise Restaurant

Patrons visiting the restaurant on certain dates between June 21 and July 14 are being asked to check their vaccination records to see if they've received a vaccine for Hepatitis A. 

According to CBS 2, a food service worker at Saint Lawrence Gridiron was on the job at the Bannock Street restaurant while contagious with Hepatitis A. Although the risk of contracting the virus from an ill food service worker is relatively low, the virus can spread quickly by entering the mouth through food or drinks that have come in contact with it.

The good news? Preventing transmission of Hepatitis A is possible if the person exposed has received a vaccine prior to coming in contact with the virus or within two weeks of exposure. Central District Health is offering that vaccine to those who ate at Saint Lawrence Gridiron June 21 and July 14 for free. You can schedule your appointment at 208-321-2222.

Symptoms you should look for include abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes and light-colored stools.  In more extreme cases, the virus which affects the liver, can also cause loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

The exact time periods the infected employee was on shift included a busy day in area around Bannock and Capitol, the day of the Twilight Criterium Bike Race:

• June 21 - June 24
• June 27 - July 1
• July 5 - 8
• July 11 - 14

In 2019, 18 cases of Hepatitis A have been confirmed in Ada and Elmore counties.  That's a significant jump from only 8 cases in the entire state of Idaho in 2018.