(August 4, 2006 Brampton) - Peel Public Health has identified a case of Hepatitis A in an employee from the Tim Horton's restaurant at 2 Intermodal Drive in Brampton.  Any customer at this location from July 8 to July 21, 2006 has a low risk of exposure to Hepatitis A.

"The risk of transmission in this case is low. At this point in time, we are not recommending vaccination of customers who might have been exposed. However, as a precaution, we are advising customers who visited this Tim Horton's location between July 8 and 21 to monitor themselves for signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A," said Dr. Eileen De Villa, Associate Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel.

Customers should monitor their health for symptoms of Hepatitis A until the end of September. Symptoms of Hepatitis A include fever, loss of appetite, upset stomach and abdominal discomfort, dark coloured urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes). Although Hepatitis A infection does not always produce illness, symptoms such as jaundice may occur abruptly and last for several weeks.

The spread of Hepatitis A can be prevented by washing your hands well after using the toilet, after changing diapers and before handling or eating food. People who have received vaccination against Hepatitis A are protected against infection. To prevent future Hepatitis A infection, speak to your doctor about the Hepatitis A vaccine.

Officials at Tim Horton's were contacted following the report of the case and are co-operating in the investigation. There have been no other cases of Hepatitis A reported linked to this incident.

The public can call their family doctor or Peel Health at 905-799-7700.  Caledon residents call free-of-charge at 905-584-2216. More information on Hepatitis A is available at www.peelregion.ca.