Michigan health officials warn attendees at Pine Knob Music Theatre’s nine latest concerts to monitor themselves for hepatitis A infections.
Oakland County Health Division reported Thursday that lab tests by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed one case of the virus tied to the outdoor music venue in Clarkston following an alert earlier this month about a suspected hepatitis A case.
The person who tested positive was connected to Pine Knob’s Ivy Lounge, an area open to season membership holders and their guests, according to Oakland County Health Division in a Thursday press release, which explained anyone who consumed food at the lounge between Aug. 26 and Sept. 8 should monitor their symptoms. The health division also encouraged unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.
“The window for vaccination to help prevent illness from hepatitis A is through tomorrow (Sept. 22) for those individuals who attended the Jason Aldean concert and ate at the Ivy Lounge,” Russell Faust, Oakland County medical director, said in the Thursday release. “For anyone who is not vaccinated for hepatitis A, we encourage getting vaccination to protect against future exposures.”
The vaccine is available at the health division’s offices at the North Oakland Health Center at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East in Pontiac and South Oakland Health Center at 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield. Fees will be charged to those who are not eligible for federal or state programs that cover vaccination costs, but officials wrote “no one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay,” in the release.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is spread through close contact with infected individuals or by consuming foods or beverages contaminated with the virus, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2018, a total of 12,474 hepatitis A cases were reported in the U.S. Because some people don’t ever get diagnosed, the actual number of cases reported in that year is probably closer to 24,900.
The incubation period for hepatitis A averages around 28 days but can range anywhere from 15 to 50 days. For unvaccinated people, it’s recommended they get vaccinated within two weeks of being exposed. Symptoms include sudden abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dark urine, vomiting and yellowing of the skin and eyes. In rare cases of infection, those with a pre-existing illness or a compromised immune system can progress to liver failure.
For people who were possibly exposed from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8 at the Ivy Lounge, below is a breakdown of exposure dates and recommended actions by local health officials:
Aug. 26 (Lynyrd Skynyrd concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Aug. 29 (Arctic Monkeys concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Aug. 30 (Foreigner concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 1 (Disturbed concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 2 (Beck and Phoenix concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 3 (Pentatonix concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 5 (Rob Zombie concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 6 (Smashing Pumpkins concert) — Monitor for symptoms
Sept. 8 (Jason Aldean concert) — Get vaccinated before Saturday, Sept. 23
Some ways to reduce Hepatitis A transmission include hand washing and disinfecting surfaces. People who are sick should refrain from preparing food for two weeks after symptoms begin.
More information about hepatitis A can be found on the Health Division’s website at oakgov.com/health or by contacting Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. Regular Nurse on Call hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.