Deptford Olive Garden Patrons Urged to Get Vaccinated
Customers who visited the Olive Garden restaurant in Deptford, New Jersey, from December 26 to December 30 are being advised to get a hepatitis A vaccine. This advice comes after one of the restaurant’s employees, who handles food, tested positive for the virus.
Key Takeaways:
– A food handler at the Deptford, New Jersey Olive Garden tested positive for Hepatitis A.
– Health officials from Gloucester County are encouraging customers to get vaccinated as a precautionary measure.
– Hepatitis A vaccines are available through healthcare providers or at pharmacies with a prescription.
– After inspection, the Gloucester County Health Department gave the establishment a satisfactory rating.
Understanding Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that causes inflammation of the liver. The symptoms often include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, and dark urine. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 7 weeks post-exposure.
In severe cases, the virus can lead to liver failure and can even be fatal, particularly among older individuals or those with existing health problems. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this scenario is relatively rare but not unheard of.
Vaccination: The Best Prevention Strategy
Importantly, people who have already received the hepatitis A vaccine are not at risk. However, those who remain unvaccinated may lower or entirely prevent symptoms if they get vaccinated within two weeks of exposure.
Hepatitis A vaccines can be procured through healthcare providers or at pharmacies with a prescription. Hence, the Gloucester County Department of Health is recommending customers who visited the restaurant towards the end of December to seek immediate vaccination, unless they have previously been immunized.
A Satisfactory Rating for the Restaurant
Even though there was an incidence of hepatitis A, the county health department conducted an inspection at the restaurant and gave it a satisfactory rating. As of now, no other illnesses connected to this incident have been reported.
The Gloucester County Department of Health also emphasized that they are closely working in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Health as well as the Olive Garden to ensure public safety and prevent further spread of the virus.
Conclusion
In conclusion, anyone who visited the Olive Garden in Deptford between December 26 and December 30, 2024, especially those not previously vaccinated against Hepatitis A, should consider getting immunized. This proactive measure helps limit the spread of the virus and protect the larger community.
Health officials are focusing on robust public awareness to educate people about Hepatitis A symptoms and encourage vaccination as the most efficient measure of prevention. Despite the incident, the Olive Garden maintains its operational standards, ensuring health safety for its patrons, as reflected in its satisfactory rating post-official inspection.