Thousands of Calgarians are at risk of contracting hepatitis A after a food-handler at a southeast McDonald's tested positive for the disease.

The Calgary Health Region yesterday confirmed the case of an employee who prepares meals at the fast-food restaurant located in the Foothills Industrial Park, 5326 72 Ave. S.E., across from the Calgary Soccer Centre.

Anyone who ate at this location from Oct. 1 to 23 may be infected, said Dr. Judy MacDonald, the health region's deputy medical officer of health.

"There are potentially thousands of people that would have been at that restaurant over that period of time," she said.

"It's impossible to know the extent of (or) even if people were actually exposed to hepatitis A."

Hepatitis A is not a chronic disease and victims usually recover within a month.

Infected people can spread the disease if they don't wash their hands properly after using the washroom, said MacDonald.

The southeast location is the only McDonald's impacted by the virus and no one else has been reported ill, she added.

The risk of contracting hepatitis A from contaminated food at the restaurant is low, said MacDonald, but a vaccination to prevent infection is available to anyone who ate at the location less than 14 days ago.

Comment: This is the crux of the story. The hepatitis A vaccination.


These restaurant patrons are urged to immediately contact Health Link at 943-5465.

Anyone who has had hepatitis A infection in the past, or who has been vaccinated against the virus, is not at risk of infection, said MacDonald.

Chris Stannell, spokesman for McDonald's in Western Canada, said the restaurant is working closely with the health region to resolve the issue.

"At McDonald's, we take the health and well-being of our customers and staff very seriously," he said.

The CHR has closed the restaurant and it will remain shut until all equipment, floors, walls, preparation areas and surfaces within employees' reach are adequately sanitized.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. A vaccination clinic runs until next Monday.