Hepatitis A Scare At West Village Tapas Bar: 239 Vaccinated After NYC Dessert Chef Tested Positive

For New York Yorkers dining at a popular West Village restaurant the first weekend in April, the last thing expected to appear on the menu was Hepatitis A.  According to CNN a Hepatitis A scare irrupted at "Altas" tapas bar, on Saturday when a pastry chef was infected with the virus.

More than 200 people received hepatitis A vaccinations over the weekend after learning that a Manhattan restaurant employee handling sweets was infected with the virus, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Patron and employees who dined from March 23 to April 2 could be at risk.  The restaurant believes that about 3,000 people ate at Alta tapas during the time frame, 15% of whom -- or 450 -- ordered dessert, according to CNN.  

The Health Department has yet to confirm and new cases of Hepatitis A in relation to "Altas."

Here is some information from the New York State Department of Health on Hepatitis A:

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool (feces) of HAV-infected people. Hepatitis A can easily spread from one person to another by putting something in the mouth (even though it may look clean) that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. This can happen when people do not wash their hands after using the toilet and then touch or prepare other people's food.

There are at least six different types of hepatitis (A-G), with the three most common types being hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is an acute infection and people usually improve without treatment. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can cause a chronic, persistent infection, which can lead to chronic liver disease. There is a vaccine to prevent hepatitis A and B, however there is not one for hepatitis C.