An exclusive Sydney restaurant has warned customers they may have contracted Hepatitis A after a food handler contracted the disease overseas.
Sokyo Japanese restaurant in the Star Casino informed patrons of a staff member who was diagnosed with the infection.
In a statement issued by New South Wales Health on Friday, customers who dined at the restaurant from September 20 to 29, and from October 2 through to 8 should see their doctor if they experience any symptoms.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver after coming into contact with contaminated food, water or sexual contact with an infected person.
Sokyo Japanese restaurant in Sydney has informed patrons of a staff member who was diagnosed with Hepatitis A
The first symptoms are usually loss of appetite, nausea, fever and stomach pains, followed several days later by dark urine, pale stools and yellowing of the skin.
Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases at NSW Health, said the risk of anyone developing the infection is considered low and there is no ongoing risk to other diners.
Dr Sheppeard said while there is a ‘safe and effective’ Hepatitis A vaccine, it ‘is not considered necessary on the basis of this low risk exposure’.
‘Most people with hepatitis A in Australia catch the infection overseas, through eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water or coming into direct contact, including sexual contact, with an infectious person,’ Dr Sheppeard said.
Sokyo confirmed the staff member had contracted the infection during an overseas holiday.
NSW Health advised the Sokyo contamination was not related to the ongoing outbreak of Hepatitis A in Sydney.
The restaurant, which is located in The Star Casino, said patrons should see a doctor if they experience any symptoms