Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is issuing a hepatitis A public exposure notification for Splitz Grill located at 4369 Main Street in Whistler on Oct. 9 from noon to 6pm. While the risk of transmission remains low, public health advises anyone who consumed food at this restaurant during this specific time period and who are not protected against hepatitis A, to get immunized against the virus.

VCH will hold a hepatitis A vaccination clinic at Whistler Community Health Centre to ensure anyone who may have been exposed has the opportunity to get immunized. The clinic will operate on a walk-in basis.

Clinic location: Whistler Community Health Centre, 4380 Lorimer Road, Whistler

Dates and hours of operation:

Friday, Oct. 22 (11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.) 

Saturday, Oct. 23 (12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m.)

Those who have previously been infected with hepatitis A or those who received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine prior to the exposure event are considered protected.

Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver and is typically found in the stools of an infected person. It is spread when a person eats food or drinks water that has come in contact with infected stools. Some of the symptoms of hepatitis A infection include fatigue, stomach upset and loss of appetite, weight loss and fever, among other symptoms. Following exposure, it can take two to seven weeks for symptoms develop. In most cases, the infection clears and does not lead to long-term liver problems. In rare cases, it can be more serious.

Anyone looking for further information can visit Healthlinkbc.ca. 

View the full release at vch.ca.