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Hundreds Need Vaccinations After NH Bartender Diagnosed With Hepatitis A

CONCORD, N.H. (CBS/AP) — Up to 1,000 people who ate or drank at an American Legion hall and restaurant in Hopkinton, N.H., are being asked to get vaccinated after a bartender was diagnosed with hepatitis A.

Read: Hepatitis A Information

Public health director Dr. Jose Montero says the bartender worked at both the American Legion and the Covered Bridge Restaurant in the Hopkinton village of Contoocook.

Jeremy Frost, a manager at the Covered Bridge, says the employee was a part-time female bartender. The restaurant is closed for now.

The American Legion hung up the phone when contacted by WBZ-TV.

Health officials believe an estimated 600 to 1000 people may have been exposed to the disease.

Patrons who visited between July 20 and Aug. 3 will be asked to get vaccinated at clinics being set up Friday and Saturday.

Those clinics will be held August 9th from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and August 10th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hopkinton High School,
297 Park Ave, Contoocook, NH.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last from a few weeks to a several months.

People often contract it when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate hand hygiene. Symptoms can take up to 50 days to show up.

WBZ-TV's Michael Rosenfield contributed to this report. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelWBZ4

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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