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Hepatitis A exposure possible at La Fontana in Nyack

Jane Lerner
jlerner@lohud.com
La Fontana in Nyack.
  • Patrons at a Nyack Italian restaurant may have been exposed to hepatitis A from a food worker who had the disease%2C health officials said.
  • People who ate at La Fontana%2C a large and popular family restaurant at 95 S Broadway%2C in the village may have been exposed during late March.
  • Vaccines will be offered%2C but county officials have not yet said where

Hundreds of people who ate at a popular Nyack Italian restaurant may have been exposed to hepatitis A by a worker who had the disease, health officials said Friday.

A waiter at La Fontana, a large, family restaurant at 95 S. Broadway, may have exposed patrons to the contagious disease between March 19 and April 1, officials said.

People who ate at the restaurant March 29, March 30 and April 1 can get a free hepatitis vaccine Saturday through Monday at the Rockland Fire Training Center, 35 Firemen's Memorial Drive in Ramapo.

"This is the window of opportunity for people who may have been exposed to benefit from the vaccine," said Dr. Anil Vaidian, infectious disease director for the Rockland Department of Health.

The Hepatitis A virus affects the liver. It is usually spread through fecal matter — often from the unwashed hands of an infected person who handles food.

The vaccine is only effective when given within 14 days of exposure, which is why it is not being offered to people who ate at the restaurant earlier, health officials said.

The vaccine will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday and 9 a.m.-noon Monday at the center.

Rockland health officials learned of the possible exposure Thursday afternoon. There have been no reports of illness among customers.

All workers at La Fontana were vaccinated Friday morning by the Rockland Department of Health.

The restaurant remains open and its usual crowd gathered at lunchtime.

"The health department wouldn't let us be open if they didn't think we were OK," said chef Ruka Albano.

Off-duty workers were still coming in to the restaurant for vaccinations through the afternoon. The restaurant, which has a popular buffet brunch, has been a Nyack fixture for 14 years.

The waiter who was infected is a "very clean person by nature," Albano said.

Restaurant owner Tony Triarsi, said the worker visited El Salvador, where he apparently contracted the illness.

"When he came back he didn't feel good," Triarsi said. "He went to the doctor."

Triarsi said a doctor told him he could return to work after a day.

"I told him to take another month off," Triarsi said.

The virus can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine and yellowing of the skin and eyes and can develop from two weeks to two months after exposure.

The state Department of Health is aware of the possible exposure in Nyack, an official said.

Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, whose father died of the unrelated hepatitis C, has been working to raise awareness of the disease.

"Whether it's contamination at a restaurant or through medical malpractice, the government has a responsibility to keep citizens safe from these diseases," he said.

La Fontana was last inspected by the Rockland Department of Health in September and no major violations were noted. It passed the inspection before that in February, 2013 without any violations.

There are an estimated 25,000 new hepatitis A virus infections every year nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People who ate at an Ossining deli in July and August 2010 were also warned that they were exposed to hepatitis A from an infected worker.

Staff writer Thane Grauel contributed information for this report.