Diners Exposed To Hepatitis At Cda Eatery Las Chavelas To Pay For Shots; Up To 800 May Have Been Exposed

People who ate at a Mexican restaurant in Coeur d’Alene on certain days last month should get Hepatitis A shots, health officials said Sunday.

A worker at Las Chavelas, on Sunset Avenue, has been diagnosed with the illness, according to a news release from the Panhandle Health District. People who ate there on Sept. 18, 19, 20 or 22 may have been exposed to the virus.

The health district is offering free injections of immune globulin today from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at its office, 2195 Ironwood Court in Coeur d’Alene. Only those who ate at the restaurant on the above dates will get shots, health officials said.

Restaurant owner Tony Orozco estimated that 600 to 800 people ate at the restaurant during the four days. Las Chavelas is paying for the immunizations.

“I want everyone to go out there and get their shot,” Orozco said. “I love my customers.”

He said the worker, a waitress, became sick but wasn’t hospitalized. She’s doing fine now, he said.

“I’m not mad at her at all,” Orozco said. “It could have happened to anyone. I’m just depressed.”

Immune globulin is only effective if given within 14 days of exposure to the virus.

It prevents or reduces symptoms of the illness.

Hepatitis A is transmitted when fecal matter is ingested orally. Thoroughly washing one’s hands after going to the bathroom is the simplest way to stop the spread of the virus, health officials say.

During recent local outbreaks of the illness, restaurant workers have been ordered to wear plastic gloves while preparing food.

Hepatitis A is one of many types of liver infections, and should not be confused with the more-serious Hepatitis B, which can cause liver damage.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A include loss of apetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, aching and fever. Later symptoms include dark urine, light-colored stools, and yellowing of the eyes or skin. Symptoms, which may not appear until two weeks after exposure, typically last for two weeks.

Bonner County and Kootenai County both experienced outbreaks of the illness earlier this year.

More than 280 cases of the illness were reported in Idaho last year.

Las Chavelas is only the latest area restaurant to wrestle with the illness.

In April, Rustler’s Roost paid to immunize 1,600 people.

Last November, nearly 50 patrons of a bar adjacent to Beverly’s, a restaurant at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, were immunized.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SHOTS People who ate at the restaurant on Sept. 18, 19, 20 or 22 may have been exposed to hepatitis A. The health district is offering free injections of immune globulin today from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at its office, 2195 Ironwood Court in Coeur d’Alene.