Update: please note that these FAQs were updated at 3PM on 13 October 2017 with additional exposure information. The updated information is highlighted in bold in the meal times and dates information noted below.
What has happened?What is hepatitis A?What are the symptoms?How is it spread?How is it diagnosed?How is it treated?I ate at the restaurant on one of the noted dates, what should I do?I ate at the restaurant at other times, what should I do?If I get symptoms, what should I do?Should I get tested to see if I have the infection?Further information
NSW Health has issued a health warning to patrons of Sokyo Restaurant at The Star Casino following the diagnosis of hepatitis A in a food handler. The food handler is believed to have acquired the infection overseas, and so is not related to the ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A in Sydney.
The NSW Food Authority has confirmed processes and hygiene systems at Sokyo are robust and the restaurant will continue operating uninterrupted with no risk to their patrons.
However, anyone who dined at the Sokyo restaurant (for breakfast, lunch or dinner) on the following dates between 20 September 2017 and 8 October 2017 may have been exposed to hepatitis A:
Hepatitis means inflammation or swelling of the liver. It can be caused by chemicals or drugs, or by different kinds of viral infections. One common cause of infectious hepatitis is hepatitis A virus. Infection with or vaccination against one type of hepatitis virus does not give protection against infection with other hepatitis viruses.
Symptoms include feeling unwell, aches and pains, fever, nausea, lack of appetite, abdominal discomfort, followed by dark urine, pale stools and jaundice (yellowing of the eyeballs and skin). Illness usually lasts one to three weeks - although some symptoms can last longer - and is almost always followed by complete recovery. Small children who become infected usually have no symptoms. Hepatitis A does not cause long-term liver disease and deaths caused by hepatitis A are rare.
The period between contact with the virus to the development of symptoms is usually four weeks, but can range from two to seven weeks.
Infected people can pass on the virus to others from two weeks before the development of symptoms until one week after the appearance of jaundice (about four weeks in total). Large amounts of the virus are found in faeces (stools) of an infectious person during the infectious period. The virus can survive in the environment for several weeks in the right conditions (for example, in sewage).
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted when virus from an infected person is swallowed by another person through:
Diagnosis is based on the patient's symptoms and confirmed by a blood test showing IgM antibodies to hepatitis A.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Household contacts and sexual partners of an infectious person may need an injection to prevent illness if able to be given within two weeks of contact with the infectious person.
The risk to patrons who ate in the evening of one of the dates noted above is considered very low, and patrons are being warned so that they seek early medical attention should symptoms develop. If hepatitis A is diagnosed early then the risk of spread to others can be controlled.
Many patrons may already be immune to hepatitis A, particularly if they have been vaccinated for travel. People who have had two doses of hepatitis A, at least six months apart, are protected and not susceptible to infection.
As the risk to patrons is considered very low, vaccination in response to this incident is not considered necessary. However hepatitis A is a safe and effective vaccine, and provides long term protection against this infection.
If patrons wish to consider vaccination they should contact their GP. If vaccine is given within two weeks of dining at Sokyo this would prevent infection developing had exposure occurred
People who ate food at Sokyo at times other than on one of the evenings of one of the dates noted above are not at risk.
If you develop fever, loss of appetite, tummy pains, or nausea please see your doctor and mention you may have been exposed to hepatitis A. If you have symptoms, do not prepare food for others or provide care to infants or the elderly until checked by your GP.
You should only get tested for hepatitis A if you show hepatitis symptoms. You should inform your GP of this potential risk so that he/she can make the appropriate testing decisions.
For further information please see the hepatitis A fact sheet or contact your local public health unit on 1300 066 055.
