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Hepatitis A Scare at Popular W. Village Bar

by Fred Mogul

NEW YORK, NY February 22, 2008 —Patrons of a West Village bar should get vaccinated for Hepatitis A if they were there on 3 particular days earlier this month.

A bartender at “Socialista,” on West Street, worked there on February 7th, 8th and 11th – after contracting the disease, but before it was diagnosed.

The Health Department says investigators found the bar lacked soap in the bathrooms, increasing the risk to patrons and prompting the warning.

Officials estimate 700-to-800 people may have been at Socialista on those three evenings.

They say the vaccination is just a precaution, but for it to be the most effective, it should be administered within two weeks of exposure.



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