Health officials in Manitoba are warning people about a potential hepatitis A exposure in Winnipeg. The province shared Wednesday there was possible recent exposure at the East Gate Inn Beer Vendor and Bar—the Kyoto Kat Club—at 685 Westminster Ave. between July 30 and Aug. 20. Anyone who was there during that time period is told to monitor for symptoms, which can appear between two and seven weeks after exposure. Hepatitis A symptoms include abdominal pain, clay-coloured stools, dark urine, diarrhea, a fever, jaundice, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and stomach cramps. Anyone with symptoms is told to contact their health-care provider and tell them about a potential exposure. The province said people with mild symptoms usually recover in a couple of weeks, while more serious cases can last several months. “Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated water, food and close contact with an infected person. People can spread the disease two weeks before their symptoms develop and generally up to one week after jaundice or other symptoms develop. People without symptoms can also spread the disease while they are infected, especially to those who live in the same household, spend significant time together or share food or utensils,” the province said in its news bulletin. To help prevent spreading hepatitis A, people are told to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating or making food.
