Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
The Hawai’i Department of Health announced a hepatitis A exposure at Hana Koa Brewing Company on August 31, 2024. This public warning was in response to an exposure event at the restaurant after a food service employee tested positive for the contagious, potentially foodborne virus.
We will explore who many be exposed, what is hepatitis A, how to spot the symptoms, and more!
The Hawai’i Department of Health indicates that the exposure event took place at Hana Koa Brewing Company, located at 962 Kawaiaha’o St., in Honolulu. The infected food service employee was working at the establishment between August 3 and August 16, 2024.
Hana Koa Brewing Company
962 Kawaiaha’o St.
Honolulu
August 3 through August 16, 2024
“Anyone who has consumed any food or drink products from this establishment from Aug. 3-16, 2024, may have been exposed to the disease.”
The Department warns those without the hepatitis A vaccination should contact their health care provider and mention their potential exposure if they begin to develop symptoms.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. There are other forms of hepatitis (B and C). Though the virus most associated with foodborne transmission is hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is highly contagious!
This virus spreads when someone ingests the virus. Even in very small amounts!
Most of the time it happens through person-to-person contact with someone who is actively shedding the virus. However, consuming food or drink contaminated with the virus is the most common method of spreading in a restaurant setting.
Hepatitis A is spread through what is called “fecal-oral route.” It happens when an infected person uses the restroom and does not effectively clean up (washing hands, etc.).
Even trace amounts (too small to see with your eyes) can carry enough of the virus to be infectious.
Even trace amounts can carry enough of the virus to be infectious!
Eating food prepared by an infected person shedding the virus or touching a contaminated surface and then eating or putting your hands in or around your mouth are the most common foodborne hepatitis A exposures.
Unfortunately, hepatitis A can be difficult to spot in others, or even in yourself. To make it even more complicated, people are often infectious before they even know they are sick.
Not everyone with hepatitis A will show symptoms. In fact, children are more likely than adults to display no symptoms at all.
One of the most common indicators involves the tell-tale liver signal – jaundiced or yellow skin and/or eyes.
Other hepatitis A symptoms may include:
If symptoms develop, they often begin around two to seven weeks following exposure.
Most of the time symptoms resolve within two months, though some people may experience illness even longer. Up to six months or more!
In most cases, people recover completely without lasting liver damage.
Not everyone is so lucky though.
Unfortunately, hepatitis A viral infections can cause liver failure or even death. However, this is more common in those who are older, people with other serious health issues, and those with chronic liver disease.
There is no specialized treatment for hepatitis A infections. Doctors often recommend rest, eating a well-balanced diet, and flushing your body with plenty of fluids to remain hydrated.
There is a common misconception with many illnesses that if symptoms have passed, they are no longer infectious.
This isn’t true for many illnesses. Including hepatitis A infections. You can spread hepatitis A before you even know you are sick and even after your symptoms have resolved.
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “it’s possible to spread HAV [hepatitis A virus] up to 2 weeks before you have any symptoms.”
Fortunately, if you have been infected with hepatitis A in the past, you have developed an immunity to the virus. Meaning, you cannot get sick with it again.
Your body develops antibodies that protect you against reinfection.
Hepatitis A is one of the few infections where vaccination following exposure can be effective
This is why vaccination for hepatitis A is so effective. Hepatitis A is actually one of the few infections where vaccination following exposure can be effective.
Vaccination AFTER exposure to prevent infection is called prophylactic vaccination. It is very effective for preventing hepatitis A infections following events like hepatitis A exposure at Hana Koa Brewing Company.
But timing is important!
If the vaccine is administered promptly (a minimum of two weeks following exposure), there is a significant likelihood that the exposed person will not become sick.
More than 95% of adults and 97% of children/adolescents will develop protective antibodies within four weeks of a single dose.
For full protection, a second dose should be administered six months later.
Certain groups of people may benefit from receiving IG, a type of immunoglobulin that boosts antibody production, along with vaccination.
Your health care provider may suggest IG alongside the two-dose hepatitis A vaccine if you are:
The hepatitis A vaccine is widely available and routinely recommended. Since 2006, the vaccine is recommended for children aged 12 to 23 months old, youths aged 2 to 18 years old who have not been vaccinated, and those in higher risk groups.
While the hepatitis A exposure at Hana Koa Brewing Company is a serious health-risk situation, Hawai’i Department of Health indicated in their public health warning that this incident was not due to any food safety violation.
“It is important to note that Hana Koa Brewing Company had no food safety violation that resulted in this case, but was merely a place where the infected employee was working.”
According to the notice, ”the establishment has cooperated with [the Department] to exclude ill and exposed food handlers” and this situation “does not pose any ongoing risk for disease transmission associated with this case.”
If you have become sick following the hepatitis A exposure at Hana Koa Brewing Company and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a hepatitis A lawyer that can help!
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for your free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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