A restaurant worker at the Huddle House in Dexter, Mo., was confirmed to have hepatitis A and was potentially contagious while handling food, state health officials said Thursday.
Anyone who ate at the restaurant between Nov. 21 and Dec. 2 should seek medical care if they have symptoms of hepatitis A.
The employee has not been at work since Dec. 2.
Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain and yellowed skin or eyes.
The virus of the liver is spread through food or drinks contaminated by the stool of an infected person. Hand washing hygiene can prevent the spread of the disease.
The restaurant is investigating the illness and possible exposures along with the state and Stoddard County health departments.
While no confirmed cases have been reported from the time frame, symptoms can develop between two and seven weeks after exposure. It could be January before any cases are confirmed.
"No labs will detect the virus until you have symptoms," Stoddard County Health Center Public Health Program Director and RN Amy Hector said. "It's a waiting game."
While lab tests will not detect the virus until symptoms show, a person is contagious two weeks before, Hector added.
"There is nothing the restaurant could have done," she said. "The restaurant has been very proactive to prevent further spread and has the most concern for their customers. They did everything they could."
If someone eats out a lot, Hector suggested receiving the hepatitis A vaccine, which is a series of two shots and protects a person for life.
"If you eat out a lot this is a risk you take," Hector said.
The vaccines can be scheduled at the health center, a health care provider or provider such as Walgreens.
"Good hand washing is the best measure to keep healthy," Hector said.
Most people who contract hepatitis A recover within weeks without permanent liver damage. It can cause liver failure and death in rare cases of older people and those with compromised immune systems.
Anyone concerned about a possible exposure can call the Stoddard County Health Center at 573-568-4593.