Health officials warn of Hepatitis A exposure at historic Provincetown restaurant
Advertisement
Reached by phone, a restaurant employee declined to comment on Saturday evening. The restaurant did not immediately return an emailed request for comment.
Hepatitis A
can be spread via close person-to-person contact or through contaminated food and drink, according to state health officials. Vaccines and the medication
Early symptoms of hepatitis A can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice, officials said. Mild cases may last two weeks, with more severe cases lasting six weeks or longer.
Childhood vaccination against hepatitis A has been recommended for children since 1991. That means individuals under 34 may be safe from infection, although state officials said that exposed diners should confirm their vaccination status with their doctors.
Advertisement
The Red Inn, originally built in 1805, has served as a hotel since 1915, according to its
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Yahoo
Scientists gave mice flu vaccines by flossing their tiny teeth — and it worked
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have developed a new, needle-free way to deliver vaccines: through the gumline. In a new proof-of-concept study, researchers successfully vaccinated mice against influenza by cleaning their teeth with dental floss coated with inactive flu viruses. Most vaccines are administered using a needle, an approach that has its drawbacks. For example, apprehension about pain from the injection and needle phobias can deter people from getting vaccinated. Additionally, injections require more medical expertise to administer than needle-free options, like mouth drops or nasal sprays, and are more challenging to store and distribute. But a floss-based vaccine could eliminate the pain and logistical challenges surrounding injections and "even be distributed through the postal mail," the researchers behind the development wrote in their study, published July 22 in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. Such a vaccine could potentially be deployed in "resource-limited settings with minimal training," they added, and be especially helpful in active outbreaks when vaccine coverage needs to be boosted quickly. Previous studies have shown that vaccinations delivered in the cheek or under the tongue trigger satisfactory immune responses. But it can be difficult to deliver adequate doses of these vaccines through mucosal tissues in the mouth — the lining that acts as a barrier between our body and the environment. Related: Acne vaccine: Experimental shot for common skin condition reaches clinical trials. Here's what you need to know. The researchers behind the vaccine floss found a creative solution: Researchers focusing on gum disease have found particular areas in the mouth that are very permeable, meaning molecules are easily absorbed by the tissue. One of these areas is called the junctional epithelium (JE). The JE is found on the tissue between teeth, at the spot where the tooth's surface meets the gum line. By secreting different molecules, the JE detects and defends against pathogens that try to get in through the gums. The study researchers thought that the JE's ability to allow molecules through and to stimulate an immune response made it a potential candidate for a vaccine site. To reach it, they needed something that could get into that small crevice between tooth and gum. So, they went out and bought some dental floss. To explore this concept, the researchers tested their hypothesis in mice. Once they'd figured out how to floss a mouse's teeth — turns out, it's a two-person job — they set up a flossing schedule to expose 50 mice to an inactive flu virus. Killed, or "inactivated" viruses cannot cause infection and are a common component of vaccines; they're used to immunize humans against diseases such as hepatitis A and polio, for example, and are found in some types of flu shot. One group of mice had their teeth flossed with the virus-coated floss three times, with two weeks between each dose. Then, a month after their final dose, they were exposed to an active flu virus. All survived, while a comparison group of mice that was left unvaccinated all died. Further testing found that the mice that had been vaccinated via the floss had a strong immune response, producing ample antibodies and many immune cells. This immune defense was found throughout the body — known as systemic immunity — and in their saliva and feces. "The floss-based vaccination induced both systemic and mucosal immunity, while conventional intramuscular shots largely stimulate systemic immunity," first study author Rohan Ingrole, a chemical engineer at Texas Tech University, told Live Science in an email. "Mucosal immunity is important because most of the pathogens enter through the mucosal routes," he emphasized. In theory, vaccine floss could thus have an edge over syringe vaccines by triggering this additional protection, but the team would like to directly compare the two methods in the future to validate this idea. RELATED STORIES —2-in-1 COVID-flu vaccine looks promising in trial — but experts say approval may be delayed —At-home flu vaccine approved by FDA — what to know —What are mRNA vaccines, and how do they work? Next, the researchers wanted to know if flossing could transfer compounds to the JE in humans. As an early test, they used a fluorescent marker and blue food coloring to coat a dental pick and had healthy volunteers floss their teeth with it. Photographs confirmed that a fair amount of the dye was transferred to the space between their teeth and gum, though just over 41% was left on the floss. The next step, the researchers said, is to translate the research to larger animals, which "can then lay the foundation for human testing in the near future," senior study author Harvinder Gill, a bioengineer at North Carolina State University, told Live Science in an email. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
Toronto Public Health warns of possible Hepatitis A exposure at downtown restaurant
Toronto Public Health is warning customers who dined at a King Street W. restaurant that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A. CBC'S Naama Weingarten has more details.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
Possible Hepatitis A exposure at Earls Kitchen + Bar downtown Toronto location, TPH says
People who dined at an Earls Kitchen + Bar location in downtown Toronto earlier this month may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, Toronto Public Health (TPH) said.. The possible exposure happened at the location on 601 King St. W., TPH said in a news release Thursday. The health agency confirmed a case of Hepatitis A in an employee at the restaurant. Exposures may have happened on the following dates and times: July 11: 4 p.m. to close. July 12: 4:30 p.m. to close. July 15: 4:30 p.m. to close. July 16: 7 p.m. to close. People who consumed food or beverages during these time windows should watch for symptoms, TPH said. They should also wash their hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water. Symptoms can begin 15 to 50 days after becoming infected. They typically last a few days to several months. Severity of symptoms can range from mild to severe, and include the following: fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, stomach pains, and jaundice — which is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Anyone experiencing symptoms of Hepatitis A is asked to contact TPH at 416-338-7600 or speak with their primary health-care provider. Diners don't need to stop eating at the restaurant location, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist. "Once the issue is dealt with and that person is no longer working in the area, the risk evaporates," he said. CBC Toronto has reached out to Earls Kitchen + Bar for comment. TPH hosting free vaccine clinic for those possibly exposed Hepatitis A is transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route, the news release said. It is found in the stool of a person infected with the virus. It is commonly spread when people with the virus handle food, TPH said. The virus is not spread by coughing or sneezing. "Most people who are infected recover completely and develop lifetime immunity following infection," the news release said. It does not develop into chronic hepatitis, and death from an infection is rare. But Hepatitis A can cause a liver infection, TPH said. Older people and those with chronic liver disease are at a greater risk of more serious illness, including hospitalization. TPH is hosting free Hepatitis A vaccine clinics at Metro Hall at 55 John St. on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for anyone who may have been exposed. People attending the clinic are asked to enter Metro Hall through the Wellington Street entrance. The vaccine is most effective when received within 14 days of exposure, TPH said. Hepatitis A can also be avoided by not handling or preparing food for anyone if you are ill, and washing your hands often and thoroughly using soap and warm water. "This is especially important after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food," the news release said. People are also advised to always wash fresh fruits and vegetables, and take caution when drinking water and consuming ice when travelling, particularly outside of North America. The vaccine is not a routine childhood immunization in Canada because Hepatitis A is not a common infection here, Bogoch said. He said the virus is not often seen in countries that have developed sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. While the infection is typically not that severe for children, he said adults can get very sick.
