Hepatitis A notification for McDonald’s restaurant in Vancouver

Vancouver Coastal Health is notifying people who dined at McDonald’s (3695 Lougheed Hwy, Vancouver) about a possible exposure to hepatitis A on the following dates and times:

April 19th, 2023 – 8am to 4pm

• April 21st, 2023 – 12pm – 7:30pm
• April 23rd, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
• April 26th, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
• April 27th, 2023 – 7am – 2pm
• April 28th, 2023 – 7am – 3pm

April 29th, 2023 – 7am – 3pm

• April 30th, 2023 – 8am – 4pm
• May 2nd, 2023 – 7am – 3pm
• May 4th , 2023 – 8am – 4pm
• May 8th , 2023 – 6am – 11am
• May 9th, 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 the times mentioned above 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^th – May 9^th.

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.