A food handler from a New Jersey restaurant is in hospital recovering from hepatitis A. According to nj.com, the individual worked in the back of the house of Rosa’s Restaurant and Catering in Hamilton, NJ.

Health officials warned that anyone who ate at or catered from the restaurant between Nov. 10 and Monday may be at risk for developing Hepatitis A if they have not been previously vaccinated. The township received notification from the state Department of Health Monday. Township health officer Jeff Plunkett said the employee, who worked in food preparation, has been in the hospital since last Tuesday.

“It is contagious through the oral route when you ingest food so it’s a possibility that … you could contract the virus if he was handling your food at the time,” Plunkett said.

Unvaccinated individuals who ate there should receive an injection of immune globulin or Hepatitis A vaccine. Both can prevent an infection if given within 14 days of exposure.

This information is much more useful than what health folks in Maine said a couple of weeks ago.