Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is notifying people who dined at the Sea Monkey Coffee food truck at Sunday Cider between Aug. 1 and 25 that they may have been exposed to hepatitis A. Sunday Cider is located just west of Gibsons, off of Highway 101, on the Sunshine Coast.
The notification, issued Thursday afternoon, does not include customers of other businesses at 1632 Sunshine Coast Highway, including the cidery itself. It also does not include people who dined at the food truck outside of these dates or who consumed only drinks at the venue.
VCH recommends anyone who dined at the food truck between Aug. 14 and 25 receive a hepatitis A vaccine, which can help prevent infection if given within two weeks of the exposure. A free vaccine dose is available for those eligible at clinics and pharmacies.
VCH says the risk of transmission to the public is low, but does advise anyone who consumed food from Sea Monkey to monitor themselves for symptoms of the virus. Symptoms include: feeling very tired; feeling sick to your stomach and not feeling hungry; losing weight without trying; pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is); fever; sore muscles; yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and clay-coloured stools.
Symptoms of the liver disease can take two to seven weeks to develop and last for about two months.
If someone has symptoms of hepatitis A, they should see their health care provider. "In most cases, the infection goes away on its own and does not lead to long-term liver problems. In rare cases, it can be more serious," said the notification.
Those previously infected with hepatitis A or who were vaccinated with two doses before exposure are considered protected.
Read more about hepatitis A at vch.ca/en/health-topics/hepatitis-a
