KTRV Fox 12 300 People Vaccinated in Hepatitis A Scare
Member Center:
Boise, Idaho -- Nearly 300 people were vaccinated for Hepatitis A at Central District Health this past week.
The rush came after a health scare at the Red Feather Lounge downtown.
The Health Department confirmed that an employee working there was infected with the liver disease.
Although it appears the worker practiced good hygiene, the illness is spread by someone going to the bathroom, not washing their hands, and then handling something that someone is going to eat or drink.
Health officials say those who got the vaccine should be protected, but they say the window has closed for others who were exposed to get the shot.
"If you were exposed, you have a two week window to get the vaccination and have it be effective. We had sort of a rolling deadline depending what day you ate at the Red Feather. The last day that this employee worked there was the 17th of March. The last day to get a vaccination would have been yesterday. Today you could come get a vaccine, but we couldn't guarantee it would be effective," said Dave Fotsch, with Central District Health.
Symptoms for hepatitis a include nausea, abdominal discomfort, tiredness and possible Jaundice. Anyone with these symptoms should consult a doctor.
Most cases of Hepatitis A are completely curable.
