Hepatitis A virus at Canadian ski resort

6 February, 2008

People who consumed food in a restaurant at the Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, between January 7 and 24, 2008, may have contracted the virus hepatitis A.

Canadian media has reported that a food handler at Masa's Bar and Grill, one of the several eateries in the village at Sun Peaks Resort, is the source of the virus.

The food handler got infected while traveling outside Canada and is no longer infectious, Canada's Interior Health Authority was quoted as saying.

In a statement, the Interior Health Authority said, "While occurrences of hepatitis A are rare, it is believed that there is a low but definite risk to persons who ate food at this restaurant during the period the worker was infectious."

Those who ate at the Masa's Bar and Grill after 3 p.m. on January 16, 18, 19, 23, and 24, 2008, are being encouraged to get vaccinated for hepatitis A as soon as possible, the statement said. Immunization clinics are being set up at the resort and at Kamloops Health Unit. Out-of-town guests of the resort have been advised to contact their local public health unit.

However, the fact is that vaccination will not be effective for those who may have already contacted the virus hepatitis A. To be effective, the vaccination has to be received within 14 days of contact with the virus.

Therefore, those who ate at Masa's Bar and Grill after 3 p.m. on January 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13, 2008, and thus exposed to the virus will not benefit from the vaccine. These people, according to the Canada's Interior Health Authority, should be on the lookout for hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a viral illness that affects the liver. The symptoms of the disease include nausea, stomach cramps, fever, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

The symptoms can develop 15 to 20 days after initial exposure and the illness can last for several weeks. In general, those affected recover fully.

Sun Peaks Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in British Columbia.

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