Greenwich Department of Health advises all Greenwich residents who ate at the Bartaco restaurant in Port Chester, N.Y. between Aug. 22 and Oct. 23 to read the following:
The Westchester County Department of Health has confirmed a case of Hepatitis A in a food service worker who recently worked at the Bartaco restaurant in Port Chester, N.Y. while infectious. Individuals who ate or drank at Bartaco between Oct 18 and Oct 23, 2017 should receive preventative treatment against Hepatitis A, a viral illness that effects the liver. Preventative treatment is only effective if given within 14 days of exposure. Anyone with a prior history of Hepatitis A vaccine or Hepatitis A infection does not need to be treated. The Westchester County Department of Health is offering post-exposure prophylaxis free of charge to those who were exposed at:
Health Department Clinic, 134 Court Street, White Plains, N.Y., as follows:
• Thursday, Nov. 2 from 9 to 11 a.m. (for those who dined October 19-23)
• Friday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (for those who dined October 20-23)
• Monday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (for those who dined on October 23)
Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to provide consent. Advance registration for the county preventive clinics is required. To register, go to health.ny.gov/gotoclinic/60. If you do not have internet access or need more information, call 211 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Listed below are additional options for those looking to receive preventive treatment in Connecticut (fee or insurance may apply):
• Greenwich Hospital (Hotline: 203-863-4500)
Greenwich Hospital, 2nd floor clinic, 5 Perryridge Rd.
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Greenwich Hospital Walk-in Clinic
90 South Ridge St., Rye Brook, N.Y.
Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 7:30 a.m. – Noon
• Greenwich Emergency Department Evenings and Weekends
Other locations (calling ahead recommended):
• Costco, 779 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, (203) 822 2003
• Rite Aid Pharmacy, 190 East Avenue, Norwalk, (203) 838-6141
• The City of Stamford’s Health Department Clinic at 137 Henry St., (203-977-5385)
The Westchester County Department of Health is also informing people who ate or drank at Bartaco in Port Chester between August 22nd and October 18th that they may also have been exposed to Hepatitis A. While these individuals are outside the window to receive preventive treatment, they should contact their health care provider immediately if they experience symptoms so that anyone they may have exposed can receive preventive treatment.
Not everyone infected with Hepatitis A will have all of its symptoms. Symptoms commonly appear within 28 days of exposure, with a range of 15 to 50 days. Hepatitis A is generally a mild illness and is rarely fatal. Most people recover in a few weeks without any complications. Symptoms of the infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, dark urine, light brown color stool, jaundice, fever, headache, weight loss or abdominal pain. The virus can be transmitted by consuming food or drink that have been handled by an infected person. It may also be spread from person to person by ingesting something that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with Hepatitis A. Casual contact, such as sitting together, does not spread the virus. Once symptoms appear, there are no specific medications to treat the illness, but Hepatitis A transmission to others can be prevented through proper handwashing. If you were potentially exposed more than two weeks ago, please contact your primary care physician if you develop any of the above signs or symptoms.
All suspected and confirmed cases of Hepatitis A should promptly be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5159 (business hours) or at 914-813-5000 (after hours).
