RALEIGH — March 29, 1996 - 1:25 p.m. EST

The Wake County Health Department is offering free immunizations for patrons of a Raleigh restaurant who might have been exposed to Hepatitis A virus.

The health department began offering the shots after confirming a waitress at the Olive Garden restaurant on Capital Boulevard has the virus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and lethargy.

Only patrons who dined at the Olive Garden on March 15 or March 16 can benefit from the immunization, said Carol Tyson, manager of the Wake County Health Department's communicable diseases section. Patrons who ate at the restaurant on other date should see a physician if they develop any symptoms of the virus, Tyson said.

"Nobody should panic," Tyson told WRAL-TV5 News reporterMark Roberts.

According to Wake County Health Department Dr. Steve Cline (pictured, right), Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water. It can be spread to restaurant patrons by employees who do not properly wash their hands before preparing food.

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As of 1 p.m. Friday, about 200 people had received immunizations. The health department will offer the shots until 7:30 p.m. today and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday