By Staff Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Grand County Public Health has confirmed that a food worker employed at two Grand Lake restaurants, Sagebrush BBQ & Grill and Max & T’s Bar and Grill, has contracted hepatitis a. both restaurants have had very good records of inspections in the past and both are cooperating in the investigation.

People who ate at Max & T’s Bar and Grill from July 26 to July 30 or Sagebrush BBQ & Grill from July 24 to Aug. 3 should get injections of immune globulin or hepatitis a vaccine within 14 days from the date they ate at the restaurants, health officials say.

For information, call the Mesa County Health Department at 254-4120.

Immune globulin or the hepatitis a vaccine can prevent infection if given within 14 days of exposure. People between ages 1 and 40 can receive hepatitis a vaccine; infants and people older than 40 should receive immune globulin.

People who ate at these restaurants between July 10-23 may have been exposed but would not benefit from the immunizations because immunizations must be given within 14 days of exposure. these people should watch for signs of hepatitis a and contact their health care providers if they develop illness.

Early signs of hepatitis a appear two to six weeks after exposure. Symptoms commonly include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine and jaundice (yellowness of eyes or skin).

For more information, also go to cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/index.htm or call COHelp at 877-462-2911.