A second case of hepatitis A has been confirmed in a food handler, Public Health Sudbury & Districts said Thursday evening.
In an email, the health unit said customers of the Real Canadian Superstore “who consumed clerk-served deli meat or cheese, or meat and cheese from prepared deli trays purchased from the store between Nov. 27, 2019, and Jan. 2, 2020, could be at risk of hepatitis A infection.
“This notice extends to Jan. 2 the original notice which was to Dec. 16. The second hepatitis A case was reported to Public Health on Jan. 1, 2020,” the email said.
The second case involves an employee who, along with the first case, worked at the deli department at the Real Canadian Superstore. Public Health reported on the first case on Dec.16 and based on information to date, both cases handled only deli food and did not handle food elsewhere in the store.
“With the report of this new case, the time period for potential exposure to hepatitis A through eating the clerk-served deli meat or cheese, or meat and cheese from prepared deli trays has been extended,” Dr. Ariella Zbar, associate medical officer of health, is quoted as saying in the email.
“Anyone who ate the affected food purchased from Nov. 27 to Jan. 2 should monitor their health, and if they ate the food in the last 14 days, they should get vaccinated. People who already received their vaccination do not need to be revaccinated. They are protected.”
“This is unfortunate but perhaps not unexpected,” Stacey Laforest, director of the health protection division, said in the email. “Public Health is working closely with store operators and workers, and any food that may have been at risk has been removed from sale. This development is an important reminder for those who are eligible to come in for immunization against hepatitis A and for all who have eaten these foods to monitor their health for symptoms.”
If you consumed clerk-served deli meat or cheese, or meat and cheese from prepared deli trays from the Real Canadian Superstore located at 1485 Lasalle Blvd. between Nov. 27, 2019, and Jan. 2 is at risk for hepatitis A infection. Anyone who consumed the affected food within the last 14 days qualifies for a free hepatitis A vaccination. A single dose is required for protection.
Anyone who previously received the hepatitis A vaccination is protected. If you ate the foods more than 14 days ago are advised to contact Public Health, monitor their health for signs and symptoms, and follow up with their health care provider if symptoms develop.
‘Clerk-served’ refers to food sold unpackaged and then packaged by a clerk upon request by the consumer (for example, deli meat for sale at the deli counter that is sliced and packaged by a clerk).
Any affected food that was purchased during this time period should not be eaten. To date, there is no evidence that anyone who consumed the food is infected.
Vaccine clinics will be held at the health unit’s man office, 1300 Paris St. in Sudbury. No appointment is needed and there is parking on site. Check phsd.ca for clinic wait times. Clinic times are:
-- Jan. 3, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
-- Jan. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-- Jan. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Only one dose of the hepatitis A vaccine is needed. This dose is provided for free to people who consumed the food within the last 14 days (that’s when the vaccine is effective).
Common hep A symptoms include fever, stomach pain or discomfort, dark urine, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, loss of appetite, clay or ash-coloured bowel movements, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
If you are concerned that you may have been infected with hepatitis A or if you have questions about getting the vaccine, contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), visit phsd.ca for updates, or speak with your primary care provider as soon as possible.
