November 14, 2017Hepatitis A Exposure at Sleepy Hollow Country Club
The Westchester County Department of Health recommends that individuals who ate or drank at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club between Oct. 31st and Nov. 4th receive preventive treatment against Hepatitis A, a viral illness that affects the liver. The health department learned late last night that an employee with the illness worked in the club?s Grill Room while infectious.
In recent weeks five people were diagnosed with hepatitis A that was traced to an exposure at bartaco, a Port Chester restaurant. The health department?s investigation shows that the country club employee was apparently infected by one of the five people who were exposed at bartaco.
The health department will offer free preventive treatment at the county clinic, 134 Court Street in White Plains for people who ate or drank at Sleepy Hollow Country Club during this period on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (For those who dined Oct. 31 - Nov. 4)
- Wednesday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (For those who dined Nov. 1 - Nov. 4)
- Thursday, November 16, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (For those who dined Nov. 2 - Nov. 4)
- Friday, November 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (For those who dined Nov. 3 - Nov. 4)
Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to provide consent. Anyone with a prior history of Hepatitis A vaccination or Hepatitis A infection does not need to be treated. The health department will offer Hepatitis A vaccine to most people. Infants under one year of age and people with immune-compromising conditions will be given immune globulin.
To speed the process, register in advance, wear short sleeves and have your registration number handy when it is your turn. To register, go to www.health.ny.gov/gotoclinic/60. If you do not have internet access or need more information, call 211 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Country club patrons with exposure also can be treated by their own health care provider.
While the greatest risk is to those who ate or drank at the Grill Room, in an abundance of caution, the health department recommends preventive treatment for anyone who ate or drank at the club between Oct. 31st and Nov. 4th. Preventive treatment is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure.
| Date of Exposure (Date dined at Sleepy Hollow Country Club) |
Last possible date to receive preventive treatment |
|
| October 31 | November 14 | |
| November 1 | November 15 | |
| November 2 | November 16 | |
| November 3 | November 17 | |
| November 4 | November 18 |
?Hepatitis A is generally a mild illness whose symptoms include fatigue, fever, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine, light colored stool and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes? said Dr. Sherlita Amler, Commissioner of Health. ?There are no special medications used to treat a person once symptoms appear, but Hepatitis A transmission to others can be prevented through proper handwashing.?
Not everyone infected with Hepatitis A will have all of its symptoms. Symptoms commonly appear within 28 days of exposure, with a range of 15 to 50 days. Preventive treatment is only effective within two weeks of exposure to the virus, but symptoms typically do not appear until a person has had the virus for a few weeks. The illness is rarely fatal and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.
The country club has fully cooperated with the investigation and voluntarily closed its kitchens today to sanitize them. The restaurant is also voluntarily vaccinating all employees with the Hepatitis A vaccine.
?We value the health and protection of everyone who enjoys Sleepy Hollow?, said Eric Rule, the club?s general manager. ?We ask for everyone?s patience while we scrub the club from top to bottom to insure a safe place for our members and their guests to dine. This is a difficult situation, but we have taken steps above and beyond the health department guidelines. All of our staff are being bused this afternoon to the health department to be vaccinated.?
Hepatitis A is transmitted by consuming food or drinks that have been handled by an infected person. It may also be spread from person to person by ingesting something that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with Hepatitis A. Casual contact, such as sitting together, does not spread the virus.
Hepatitis A is reportable to the health department. In 2016, Westchester had six cases of Hepatitis A. Through September 2017, Westchester had five cases. In October, five more cases were reported.
For more health information on Hepatitis.
Updated 11/8/2017
Hepatitis A Exposure at a Port Chester Restaurant
The Westchester County Department of Health is informing people who ate or drank at bartaco in Port Chester between August 22nd and October 23rd that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A. While preventive treatment is no longer effective for those who dined at the restaurant during this time period, anyone who experiences symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately so that anyone they may have exposed can receive preventive treatment.
?Hepatitis A is generally a mild illness whose symptoms include fatigue, fever, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine, light colored stool and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes? said Dr. Sherlita Amler, Commissioner of Health. ?There are no special medications used to treat a person once symptoms appear, but Hepatitis A transmission to others can be prevented through proper handwashing.?
Not everyone infected with Hepatitis A will have all of its symptoms. Symptoms commonly appear within 28 days of exposure, with a range of 15 to 50 days. Preventive treatment is only effective within two weeks of exposure to the virus, but symptoms typically do not appear until a person has had the virus for a few weeks. The illness is rarely fatal and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.
bartaco in Port Chester has fully cooperated with the investigation and voluntarily closed the restaurant on Wednesday, October 25th. The restaurant is also voluntarily vaccinating all employees with the Hepatitis A vaccine. The restaurant reopened after it has was re-inspected and approved by the Westchester County Department of Health. bartaco in Port Chester has also made resources available to assist staff and patrons. ?We are committed to food safety and the quality of our food,? said Pam Ritz, a bartaco spokeswoman. ?We have set-up a dedicated phone line for any guests who may wish to ask us questions directly and we encourage our guests to reach out at 844-617-8242, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.?
Hepatitis A is transmitted by consuming food or drinks that have been handled by an infected person. It may also be spread from person to person by ingesting something that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with Hepatitis A. Casual contact, such as sitting together, does not spread the virus.
Hepatitis A is reportable to the health department. In 2016, Westchester had six cases of Hepatitis A. Through September 2017, Westchester had five cases.
For more health information on Hepatitis.
