Diners in hepatitis A alert tracked down

By ANGELA GREGORY

Health officials are confident they have heard from all the diners who might benefit from immunisation after a hepatitis A scare at a Mission Bay restaurant.

A waitress who worked at the Bluefins Restaurant and Bar was found with the disease. The 20-year-old was not aware she had it while she worked there, as no symptoms were showing then.

The Public Health Service was concerned about the possible risk of contamination to people when she served bread and took food orders between January 7 and 10, and January 15 or 16.

Dr Greg Simmons said the 168 patrons at the restaurant on the second two days had until yesterday evening to get an immunisation shot.

He was confident they had traced all of them. Seventy-two yesterday received a dose of immune globulin.

Others were already immune, and a few chose not to take up the free offer to guard against the illness, which can last one to two weeks and has flu-like symptoms.

Of the restaurant patrons in the earlier period, 157 out of an estimated 226 were identified and consulted. They were not able to be immunised because of the timing.

Dr Simmons said it was rare to get hepatitis A in cases of food handling.

Bluefins co-owner Keith Winders said that although there had been only a couple of cancellations since the publicity, he was concerned for the restaurant's viability.

It would take only a 20 per cent drop in revenue to ruin the business he owned with chef Alan Smith.

Mr Winders said he appreciated the many calls of support and sympathy from regulars and other restaurant operators. They had taken about 40 bookings from people who understood that it was no reflection on the restaurant and wanted to help his trade.