A case of hepatitis A has been reported to the Nassau County Department of Health in a food worker who works at Villa Leone, 1270 Union Turnpike, New Hyde Park.

All individuals who patronized Villa Leone during the month of October may be at risk for contracting hepatitis A. Because of the length of time passed since potential exposure, preventive treatment with immune globulin is not indicated.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, poor appetite, fever and vomiting. Urine may become darker in color. Later, jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin, may appear. Not everyone who is infected will have all of the symptoms. Children with hepatitis A often have mild symptoms and do not become jaundiced, making the diagnosis more difficult. There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person once the symptoms appear. The disease is rarely fatal and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.

Persons who have symptoms of hepatitis A should contact their physicians or health care providers and inform them of their possible exposure. Symptoms may arise from two to six weeks following exposure, but usually appear within three to four weeks.

The hepatitis A virus enters through the mouth, multiplies in the body and is passed through the feces. The virus may be carried on the infected person’s hands and can be spread either by direct contact or by consuming food or drink that has been handled by the individual.

Because persons who ate at the restaurant during the month of October may have been exposed to hepatitis A, the Nassau County and the New York State Departments of Health strongly advise all individuals to carefully wash their hands after using the toilet and before food preparation since some individuals can transmit the disease before onset of symptoms. Although these individuals do not need to be tested or treated, they may still be able to transmit the infection. Therefore, thorough handwashing is very important to prevent the spread of hepatitis. It is also important to use separate towels when drying hands.

People with symptoms of hepatitis A should contact their physicians or health care providers.