The Oakland County Health Department in California has reported a suspected case of hepatitis A linked to the Ivy Lounge at Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston. The health department is closely monitoring all season members, their guests, and staff who dined at the Ivy Lounge between August 26 and September 8 for symptoms of hepatitis A. They are also advising individuals who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A to get vaccinated as soon as possible. According to Dr. Russell Faust, the Oakland County Medical Director, the risk of infection is low in this particular situation. However, he strongly encourages unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated within 14 days of potential exposure to prevent the disease.
To provide further guidance, the health department has outlined the exposure dates and recommended actions for those who may have been exposed to hepatitis A at the Ivy Lounge. It is recommended for people who attended the Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert on August 26th to monitor for symptoms. The same applies to those who attended the Arctic Monkeys Concert on August 29th and the Foreigner Concert on August 30th. For individuals who dined at the Ivy Lounge on September 1st during the Concert Disruption, it is advised to get vaccinated by September 15th. The recommended vaccination dates for those who attended subsequent concerts are as follows: September 2nd (Beck and Phoenix Concert) – by September 16th, September 3rd (Pentatonix Concert) – by September 17th, September 5th (Rob Zombie Concert) – by September 19th, September 6th (Smashing Pumpkins Concert) – by September 20th, and September 8th (Jason Aldean Concert) – by September 22nd.
The health department has taken proactive measures by scheduling two special hepatitis A vaccine clinics. These clinics will be held on Friday, September 15th until 8pm, and on September 16th and September 17th from 10am to noon at the North Oakland Health Center in Pontiac. Registration is not required for these clinics. Any potentially exposed individuals should familiarize themselves with symptoms of hepatitis A and contact their healthcare provider if they feel sick, informing them of the known exposure. Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver and is commonly spread through contaminated hands. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dark urine, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Typically, symptoms appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and last about a month. In rare cases, hepatitis A can progress to liver failure, particularly in individuals with pre-existing serious illnesses or weakened immune systems.
The addresses of the Health Department offices are as follows: North Oakland Health Center – 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac, and South Oakland Health Center – 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield. Those with insurance coverage should contact their healthcare provider for more information. There may be discount or sliding rate options available for those who cannot afford vaccination costs. Individuals who do not qualify for federal and/or state programs covering vaccination costs will be charged. Cash and credit card are accepted payment methods. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides free vaccines for eligible children up to age 18.
For more information about hepatitis A, individuals can visit the Department of Health’s website at oakgov.com/health or contact the on-call nurse at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. On-call nurses will be available on Friday, September 15th from 7:00 PM, and on September 16th and September 17th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Regular nurse on-call hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. For updates on public health information, people can follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.