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Health officials expand window for people possible affected by hepatitis A

By Stephanie Coueignoux
By Stephanie Coueignoux

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County health officials expanded the window they said customers at a south Charlotte restaurant could have been exposed to hepatitis A.
 
County officials said an employee who delivered food and washed utensils and glassware tested positive for the virus. Tuesday, they expanded the window of potential exposure from Feb. 3 to Feb. 10 -- the day the employee stopped working there.
 
Philip Ma said he and his co-workers are worried about possibly being exposed to the virus.
 
"It was a big deal in our office and everybody was trying to ask their doctor to see if they had ever been tested for hep A," Ma said.
 
Ma said they went to Dogwood Southern Table and Bar on Feb. 4, one of the dates the Mecklenburg County Health Department says customers and staff may have been exposed to hepatitis A.
 
Channel 9's Stephanie Coueignoux went to the restaurant Tuesday to speak with management, but it was closed. She did see several people walk up to the restaurant, and knock on the door to try and get answers about any possible exposure.
 
Government offices were also closed Tuesday.
 
Health officials told Channel 9's Stephanie Coueignoux they do recommend anyone who was at the restaurant on those dates receive a vaccination against hepatitis A.
 
Because of weather conditions, they did not offer vaccinations Tuesday -- a decision some people told us they don't understand.
 
"You'd think they'd make an exception. It's a little disheartening to hear that," Barbara Woodward said.
 
Officials said the risk of traveling in this weather is greater than the risk of exposure to hepatitis A.
 
The hepatitis A vaccine can be given up to two weeks after a potential exposure.
 
Health officials will start offering vaccinations again Wednesday.
 
We checked and found county health officials last inspected Dogwood Southern when it opened in November 2014 and gave it an "A" rating.
 
CLICK HERE for the full report.

  • Feb. 4, dinner shift – priority clinic on Feb. 18
  • Feb. 5, dinner shift – priority clinic on Feb. 18
  • Feb. 7, dinner shift – clinic on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20
  • Feb. 8, lunch shift – clinic on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20
  • Feb. 9, dinner shift – clinic on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20
  • Feb. 10, dinner shift – clinic on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20

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