Patrons of Ottawa Tim Hortons face 'very low risk' of exposure to hepatitis A: OPH

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is alerting residents to a "very low risk" of exposure to hepatitis A after an employee at a Tim Hortons on Hunt Club Road tested positive for the infectious disease.

OPH is recommending anyone who ate or drank products from the Tim Hortons at 372 Hunt Club Rd. between Nov. 15 and Dec. 8 monitor for signs and symptoms of hepatitis A for the next 50 days. 

Those include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, feeling generally unwell (malaise), yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), pale stools or dark urine, OPH said. The public health agency urges anyone who visited the restaurant during that period and experiences any of these symptoms to seek medical assessment.

"Risk to patrons is considered to be very low because of the food service establishment's proper attention to hygiene and safe food preparation," OPH added.

Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that can severely affect the liver. It can be passed from one person to another when "an infected individual uses a washroom and improperly washes their hands before preparing food for another person or if food or water is already contaminated," OPH said.

"Hepatitis A is more common in places with inadequate sanitation systems," the public health agency added.

While some people who become infected with hepatitis A will experience no symptoms, those who do will typically notice them within 15 to 50 days of infection, OPH said.

According to OPH, the most effective ways to protect against hepatitis A is to be vaccinated, practise good hand hygiene, and ensure food and water is safe when travelling.