Schuyler County, NY– People who ate at the Seneca Harbor Station restaurant (3 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891) between June 11th and June 21st were potentially exposed to hepatitis A. Most people do not get sick when an employee at a restaurant has hepatitis A, but there is still a risk. People who may have been exposed should receive treatment to prevent infection.
"While the risk of infection is low, anyone who may have eaten at the restaurant during this timeframe should check their immunization status and come to one of our clinics or visit their healthcare provider if necessary" said Schuyler County Public Health Director Deborah Minor, RN, MPH.
As a result of this potential hepatitis A exposure, Schuyler County Public Health is advising anyone who ate food at the restaurant between June 12th and June 21st to receive a free hepatitis A vaccine during one of the upcoming vaccine clinics. The clinics will be held at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex (323 Owego St, Montour Falls, NY 14865) on the following days and times:
• June 26 from 2-7PM
The hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin is only effective within two weeks of exposure to the virus. People who ate at the Seneca Harbor Station restaurant between June 12th and June 21st (and have not been previously vaccinated against hepatitis A) should receive the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin as soon as possible. Pre-registration for the clinic is encouraged. Visit www.health.ny.gov/go2clinic to pre-register. If you cannot pre-register, please bring your driver’s license or another form of identification.
Those who ate at the Seneca Harbor Station restaurant on June 11th, may have been exposed but will not benefit from hepatitis A vaccine to prevent infection from this exposure and are encouraged to monitor themselves and their families for symptoms for 50 days after consuming the food. Symptoms may include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine, clay-colored stools, joint pain, or jaundice. If you have any symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and be sure to tell them that you may have been exposed to hepatitis A.
The owner and staff at the restaurant are complying with all recommendations from the state and local health department. The restaurant is currently open and there is no risk to eating there at this time.
For more information:
• Call 607-535-8140 or visit the Schuyler County Public Health website at https://www.schuylercounty.us/166/Public-Health
- • New York State Department of Health http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/
- • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/afaq.htm
- • Vaccine Information Sheet ("VIS") http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.html
