Lee McGuire's 11 News report

If you ate at a popular Harris County eatery in the last few weeks, you may need to see a doctor.

The Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services says anyone who worked or ate an area Pappasito’s Cantina on Jan. 23-27, Jan. 30-31, Feb. 1, Feb.y 3 or Feb. 7-9 may have been exposed to Hepatitis A.

The restaurant in question is located at 15280 I-45 North at Airtex in Houston. 

A member of the wait staff there is reported to have worked at the restaurant while he was infectious. 

It is believed to be the only restaurant affected.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus.  There is not a cure for Hepatitis A, but more people who are infected do not develop major long-term health problems. 

Infants and young kids tend to have very mild illness or no symptoms at all, while adults are more likely to have symptoms.  Even those without symptoms are contagious.

People with liver problems can become very ill if infected with Hepatitis A, but adults and kids who have been fully vaccinated against the virus are not considered at risk of developing the disease.

KHOU-TV

The restaurant in question is located at 15280 I-45 North.

The HCPHES will provide free immune globulin shots on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mangum Howell Center located at 2500 Frick Road in Houston to anyone who thinks they were exposed from Feb. 7-9.

Immune globulin contains antibodies to help prevent people from developing disease. 

The HCPHES is asking all people seeking shots to bring immunization records to the center.

Those who were at the restaurant on any of the dates in January or on February 1 or 3 will not benefit from the immune globulin shots, as they are only effective if administered within two weeks of exposure.  These people are advised to monitor their health and report to their physician immediately if they experience extreme tiredness, fever, nausea and/or vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea, jaundice (yellowed eyes and skin), light-colored stool or rust-colored urine.

Hepatitis A symptoms can appear 15-50 days from exposure.

Pappas Restaurants, the company that owns Pappasito’s, says it has embraced the protocols set forth by health officials and has not heard of any guests or employees falling ill to date.

“The most important people here at Pappas are our guests and employees. We do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety and health,” Pappas Restaurants CEO Chris Pappas said in a statement.

“I am actively monitoring every aspect of this event, which is our first experience with this type of situation.  I want to point out the outstanding job that Dr. Palacio and the entire department has done with their rapid response, and their valuable counsel and assistance.”

Residents are asked to call the HCPHES hotline at (713) 212-0200 or visit the Web site at www.hcphes.org for more information.