Hundreds vaccinated after Guelph-area restaurant employee tests positive for Hep A

Hundreds lined up on Saturday to get vaccinated after an employee of a popular restaurant near Guelph tested positive for Hepatitis A.

A warning was issued by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health on Thursday after it was discovered a food handler at Marj’s Village Kitchen in Fergus had tested positive for the infectious disease.

Renee Fleming and her son Ewin were just two of about 400 people who lined up at the Fergus Public Health Clinic to get vaccinated for free on Saturday. More than 1250 people have been vaccinated so far.

“My husband and son ate there a few weeks ago so we’re going to get my son vaccinated to be safe,” Fleming told CityNews. “It’s terrifying, especially when you’re dealing with a little guy. My son is three-years-old, so you just want to make sure that they’re protected.”

The restaurant has remained closed since the warning was issued.

“We’re not concerned about people dying from it, but you can get quite ill and the illness can last up to four weeks,” chief nursing officer Rita Sethi explained. “There can be complications if you have some underlying conditions.”

Anyone who dined at Marj’s between Jan. 2 and Jan. 20 is advised to get vaccinated.

“The individual in question who was ill, from my understanding, was a very good hand washer so the likelihood is low that they spread the disease but we want to be safe,” Sethi said.

Public health said they are not aware of anyone who contracted the disease from the restaurant.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A include fever, nausea, vomiting, dark urine and yellowing of the eyes and skin.

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