A warning was issued on Valentine’s Day about potential exposure to hepatitis A at a restaurant in the Flatiron District. NBC New York’s Brittany Miller reports.
The New York City Health Department is warning patrons of a Manhattan restaurant about possible exposure to the hepatitis A virus.
Health officials said they were notified about a case of hepatitis A in a food handler at ilili Restaurant at 236 Fifth Avenue.
The city is urging anyone who ate at the restaurant or ordered takeout from there between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9 to get a hepatitis A vaccine, if they were not previously vaccinated. The health department is also advising anyone who ate food from ilili between Jan. 17 and Feb. 9 to monitor for symptoms of the illness.
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"We are urging these restaurant patrons to consult with their providers and get the hepatitis A vaccine as a precautionary measure," said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse.
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SIGN UP A spokesperson for ilili Restaurant tells NBC New York they plan to open on their regular schedule Friday after being cleared to open by the health department.
“On Wednesday, ilili learned that one of our kitchen employees tested positive for Hepatitis A. As soon as we learned the diagnosis, we contacted the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, have been in constant communication with it, and are cooperating with it fully. The Department of Health inspected our kitchen shortly thereafter and did not find any violations or risks to public health," the restaurant spokesperson said.
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Ilili said it deep cleaned the restaurant every four hours Wednesday night and is bringing in extra third-party cleaners to assist with sanitization.
What are symptoms of hepatitis A?
According to the health department, hepatitis A symptoms include:
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
"This incident serves as an important reminder to stay up to date with current vaccination recommendations, and to always wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease," Morse said.
The vaccine is most effective when received within 14 days of exposure, health officials said, which in this case would be the date they ate at the restaurant.
No additional hepatitis A cases have been related to the restaurant.
