AT-A-GLANCE Cases: 5

5 Hospitalizations: 2

2 Deaths: 0

0 Status: Investigation is complete

Investigation is complete Locations: Señor Moose, 5242 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Señor Moose, 5242 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 Meal dates: February 24, 25 and 26

February 24, 25 and 26 Current food safety rating: GOOD

Highlights

Updated August 14, 2020



Summary

Public Health investigated an outbreak of hepatitis A with jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever associated with Señor Moose restaurant in Seattle.

Illnesses

Since April 15, 2020, 5 people from 5 separate meal parties reported becoming ill with jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and fatigue after consuming food from Señor Moose restaurant between February 24 and February 26, 2020. There was no indication that any current or former employees of the restaurant had illnesses consistent with hepatitis A.

This outbreak occurred while there is an ongoing local outbreak of hepatitis A among persons experiencing homelessness. In July 2019, Washington state declared a statewide hepatitis A outbreak among people living homeless or who use drugs. More recently, the Ballard area, where Señor Moose is located, has had a cluster of hepatitis A cases among people experiencing homelessness; none of the five cases described above reported any connection to persons experiencing homelessness or who use drugs.

Genetic testing of all 5 cases associated with Señor Moose match the local outbreak strain affecting people experiencing homelessness or who use drugs. Genetic testing results suggest the cluster associated with Señor Moose is part of the larger outbreak among people experiencing homelessness or who use drugs.

Public Health actions

Due to the ongoing response to COVID-19 and the current recommendations for social distancing, initial outreach to the restaurant was conducted over the phone to minimize risk of exposure. Environmental Health investigators held a teleconference with restaurant management on April 17, 2020. Investigators reviewed food handling practices, illness policies, employee schedules, employee health, and facility cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection procedures with the restaurant management to identify possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis A. The restaurant was closed for cleaning and disinfection on April 17, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.

Investigators interviewed all current and former employees about health history, job duties, and food handling practices. No ill employees were identified.

An Environmental Health investigator visited the restaurant on April 19, 2020 to review food handling practices at the establishment and to verify proper cleaning and disinfection was completed and all ready-to-eat foods were discarded.

The investigator reviewed the requirement with management that if staff become ill with hepatitis A, they are not allowed to work until it has been at least 7 days since jaundice onset AND they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours, indicating that they are no longer contagious. The investigator provided education about preventing the spread of hepatitis A — including proper handwashing, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, and reinforced illness policies, facility cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection, and vaccination.

Laboratory testing

Five people who got sick tested positive for hepatitis A and had elevated (abnormal) liver enzyme testing consistent with acute hepatitis. Patient specimens were sent to the CDC for genotyping. Genetic testing of two of the five people matches the local outbreak strain affecting people experiencing homelessness or who use drugs, suggesting the cluster associated with Señor Moose is part of the larger outbreak among people living homeless or who use drugs since April 2019.