Customers of a Newmarket Tim Hortons may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, according to health officials in York Region.
A public warning was issued Sunday morning after York Region Public Health identified two cases of Hepatitis A linked to the restaurant.
An employee of the donut shop first contracted the disease, officials said. Public Health investigated the matter and initially thought the risk to customers was very low. However, after testing fellow workers, a second employee also came up positive for Hepatitis.
"The nature of the work of the second case poses higher risk to customers," says a news release issued Sunday.
Since the matter came to light, the donut shop has undergone a high-level disinfection, as is required by Public Health.
The health warning is targeting customers who ate at the donut shop between Thursday April 2 and Wednesday, April 22. The restaurant is located at 16545 Yonge Street, by Savage Road.
Customers who just ordered a drink should not be concerned, the news release says.
"The risk associated with consuming just beverages alone is so low because of packaging and heating that York Region Public Health is not recommending vaccine for customers who only consumed beverages," it says.
Hepatitis A is a common disease that affects the liver. It is a serious but rarely fatal disease. Most people recover from the illness after a few weeks without suffering any complications.
A vaccine against Hepatitis can greatly reduce the risk of contracting the disease if it is administered within 14 days of being exposed.
Health officials are holding a vaccine clinic on Monday, April 27 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Newmarket Health Centre at 194 Eagle Street.
