More Than 1,000 Show Up For Hepatitis Shots

RALEIGH — March 30, 1996 - 5:26 p.m. EST

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Carol Tyson (pictured, left), communicable disease program manager for Wake County Health Department, describes hepatitis A and says there's no need for panic. Listen toaufile. (226K)

Tyson says outbreaks of hepatitis A are rare in Wake County. Listen toaufile. (124K)Between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon more than 1,000 people received shots to prevent hepatitis A, after possible exposure at a north Raleigh restaurant.

A waitress at the Olive Garden on Capital Boulevard was diagnosed with the disease, prompting many who had eaten there to contact the Wake County Health Department.

Immunizations were administered free of charge to those who thought they might have been exposed.

Health officials are taking this alert very seriously, even though Hepatitis-A is not the most dangerous strain of the disease. They say patrons who ate at the restaurant on March 15 or 16 may have been exposed.

If so, you should be showing some symptoms by now, such as fever, nausea and vomiting, and a slight yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Health department officials say other people who ate at that particular restaurant on March 2, March 4 - 7, or March 14 could also be at risk, but that it's too late for immune serum to work on those cases.

If you have reason to believe you were exposed, contact the Health Department on New Bern Avenue next to Wake Medical Center.

Anyone who was exposed and has symptoms should see a doctor.

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