State Health Officials warn of potential hepatitis A exposure linked to Provincetown restaurant

May 27

Flyer by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

(2-3 minute read)

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and the Provincetown Board of Health, is alerting the public to a potential hepatitis A exposure associated with a food service worker at The Red Inn in Provincetown.

The exposure risk applies to individuals who dined at The Red Inn, located at 15 Commercial Street in Provincetown, between April 30 and May 15, 2025. Health officials urge those individuals to contact their healthcare provider immediately.

A restaurant employee who worked during that timeframe has tested positive for hepatitis A, a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Officials recommend that potentially exposed individuals seek medical treatment, including possible vaccination or immune globulin therapy, which are effective within two weeks of exposure.

Symptoms and transmission

Hepatitis A symptoms include:

Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomitting
Diarrhea
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Dark urine

Symptoms can range in severity and duration, from mild cases lasting a couple of weeks to more severe ones extending up to six weeks or longer. Not everyone shows symptoms, but even asymptomatic individuals can still spread the virus.

The hepatitis A virus is typically spread through the fecal-oral route, often via close contact with an infected person or through contaminated food or beverages.

Preventative actions

Customers who visited The Red Inn during the specified period should:

Consult a healthcare provider, even if they are not showing symptoms.
Confirm their vaccination status, especially if they are 34 years or younger and may have received hepatitis A vaccination as part of childhood immunizations.
Practice thorough handwashing - especially after using the restroom and before preparing food. Proper handwashing includes cleaning the back of hands, wrists, between fingers, and under fingernails with vigorous soap and water.