VANCOUVER Coastal Health is notifying people who dined at McDonald’s (3695 Lougheed Highway, Vancouver) about a possible exposure to hepatitis A on the following dates and times:
· April 19, 2023 – 8am to 4pm
· April 21, 2023 – 12pm – 7:30pm
· April 23, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
· April 26, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
· April 27, 2023 – 7am – 2pm
· April 28, 2023 – 7am – 3pm
· April 29, 2023 – 7am – 3pm
· April 30, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
· May 2, 2023 – 7am – 3pm
· May 4, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
· May 8, 2023 – 6am – 11am
· May 9, 2023 – 6am – 9am
Although the risk of transmission to the public is low, Vancouver Coastal Heath (VCH) Public Health advises anyone who consumed food at this restaurant during this time period to monitor themselves for symptoms of hepatitis A, which can take two to seven weeks to develop after exposure and last for about two months.
Symptoms include:
- Feeling very tired
- Feeling sick to your stomach and not feeling hungry
- Losing weight without trying
- Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is)
- Fever
- Sore muscles
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and clay-coloured stools
If you have early symptoms of hepatitis A it is very important to see your health care provider. In most cases, the infection goes away on its own and does not lead to long-term liver problems. In rare cases, it can be more serious.
Getting immunized with one dose of hepatitis A vaccine can help to prevent infection if given within two weeks of exposure. Therefore, VCH recommends immunization with hepatitis A vaccine for anyone who dined at this restaurant from April 29 – May 9.
A free dose of hepatitis A vaccine is available for those who are eligible at public health clinics and pharmacies throughout the VCH region. A current list of public health clinics offering vaccine starting this Saturday, and their booking information is available at: https://immunization.janeapp.com.
The following pharmacies are also supporting Hep A vaccine administration over the May 13th/14th weekend :
Pharmasave #94
1808 Kingsway
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 778-379-4470
Shoppers Drug Mart #263
885 W. Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-708-1135
Shoppers Drug Mart #272
1125 Davie Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 604-699-2424
NOTE: (this location indicated only offering vaccination on the weekend between the hours of 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m.)
If you live in the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) and you need a risk assessment and/or clinic appointment, please call 778-368-0123. Fraser Health will be offering immunization clinics in Guildford and Burnaby this weekend.
Those who are outside the VCH and FHA region should contact their local Public Health unit.
If the above clinic locations and times do not work for you, call your local pharmacy to see if they have a dose of Hepatitis A vaccine available for you.
Those who have previously been infected with hepatitis A or those who received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine prior to the exposure event are considered protected.
Find more information about hepatitis A symptoms, causes, tests, treatments and prevention at http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a.
Individuals who are concerned they may have been exposed and have questions can call 811 or speak to their primary care provider.
