The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is investigating after a case of hepatitis A was confirmed in London on Tuesday.
According to MLHU, the individual lives in London and works at Tim Hortons at 1825 Adelaide Street North. They confirmed that the individual contracted the disease while traveling outside of Canada.
The risk to the community is very low because the person practiced proper hand hygiene and wore gloves while preparing food, said Dr. Joanne Kearon, Resident Public Health Physician at MLHU.
“Public health was notified of this case late Tuesday evening. We are speaking directly to close contacts but are advising anyone who has visited the Tim Hortons at 1825 Adelaide Street North in the last month to be alert for signs and symptoms,” Kearon said.
The disease is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, which happens when people eat or drink contaminated food or water. It can also spread with people living in the same house or through sexual contact with an infected person, the health unit said.
What to look out for
Many people who become infected will be asymptomatic, especially young children, Kearon said.
“Once a person is infected, they can develop symptoms anywhere from 15 to 50 days. So if you’ve visited this Tim Hortons within the last month, it may be up to 50 days before you can see the symptoms,” she added.
Symptoms include:
• Fever
• Body aches
• Stomach pain
• Nausea, tiredness
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• Dark (tea-colored) urine
Kearon advises people to stay home and contact their doctor if they develop any symptoms.
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