IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE

Two (2) Hepatitis A Cases Confirmed in Hamilton Residents - January 1, 2015

Press Conference for Community and Media to be Held on Friday, January 2, 2015

The Hamilton Township Division of Health has been informed of two (2) additional Hepatitis A cases which were confirmed over the New Year’s holiday.

In the first additional case (second case in community), the Hamilton Township Division of Health was informed by Robert Wood Johnson Hospital - Hamilton and the New Jersey Department of Health late on December 31, 2014, that a case of Hepatitis A was confirmed in an employee of The Hair Port Salon, located at 3144 South Broad Street in Hamilton Township, N.J.  This employee has been released from the hospital and is presently recovering at home.

Hamilton Township Health officials warn that all staff members and patrons of this establishment who visited the salon from December 4, 2014 to December 31, 2014 may be at risk for developing Hepatitis A if they have not been previously vaccinated with the Hepatitis A vaccine.  Unvaccinated individuals who have visited the salon during the above time period should receive an injection of immune globulin or Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible.  Unvaccinated Hamilton Township residents should contact their primary care provider or the Hamilton Township Division of Health at 609-890-3884 for more information and direction.  Residents from other communities should contact their primary care provider or their local community Division of Health. 

In the second additional case (third case in community), the Hamilton Township Division of Health was informed by the New Jersey Department of Health on January 1, 2015, that a case of Hepatitis A was confirmed in a part-time fitness instructor at the Hamilton Area YMCA’s JKR Branch located at 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road in Hamilton Township, N.J.  This instructor also serves at a fitness instructor at the New Jersey Athletic Club, located at 4152 Quakerbridge Road in Lawrenceville, NJ, and is also an employee of the Mercer County Board of Social Services, located at 200 Woolverton Street in Trenton, NJ.   This fitness instructor is presently recovering at home.

Hamilton Township Health officials warn that all staff members and patrons who visited the Hamilton Area YMCA’s JKR Branch, the New Jersey Athletic Club in Lawrenceville or the Mercer County Board of Social Services in Trenton from December 5, 2014 to December 29, 2014 may be at risk for developing Hepatitis A if they have not been previously vaccinated with the Hepatitis A vaccine.  Unvaccinated Hamilton Township residents should contact their primary care provider or the Hamilton Township Division of Health at 609-890-3884 for more information and direction.  Residents from other communities should contact their primary care provider or their local community Division of Health. 

During routine questioning by Hamilton Township Health officials it was confirmed that both individuals in these two additional cases had eaten at or from Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering located at 3442 South Broad St, Hamilton Township, NJ, during the first confirmed Hepatitis A case in November.  Hamilton Township’s Division of Health cannot say with any certainty that the two additional cases were a direct result from the original infection/case.

Hamilton Township Division of Health officials and personnel will be available for Hamilton residents who contact the Division of Health tomorrow (January 2, 2015) by calling 609-890-3884 (from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).

Additionally, Hamilton Township officials will hold a press conference tomorrow afternoon (Friday, January 2, 2015) at the HamStat Call Center Training Room (located a 5 Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way) beginning at 2:00 PM to provide information and answer questions to the media and public.

The early signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A appear 2-6 weeks after exposure and commonly include the following:

                Mild fever

                Loss of appetite

                Nausea

                Vomiting

                Diarrhea/ “Clay-colored” stool

                Tiredness

                Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen under the rib cage

                Dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)

Additional information regarding Hepatitis A can be viewed at the following website: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/ChooseA.htm

The disease varies in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and the more severe cases lasting 4-6 weeks or longer. However, even persons with mild symptoms can be highly infectious. Persons with symptoms suggestive of Hepatitis A should consult a physician even if symptoms are mild.

Hamilton Township will post any further updates on the Hamilton Township website (www.HamiltonNJ.com) and on its social media sites to keep residents informed.