Pine Knob concertgoers may have been exposed to hepatitis A
Potentially thousands of concertgoers and workers at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston may have been exposed to hepatitis A during nine concerts spanning from late August to early September, Oakland County health officials said Thursday.
The exposures occurred at Pine Knob's Ivy Lounge between Aug. 26 and Sept. 8.
Hepatitis A causes liver inflammation — and, in extreme cases, liver failure — and is highly contagious. It can be spread through food or water contaminated by the feces of an infected person, through close contact or sex with a person who has hepatitis A or by touching a surface contaminated by the virus and then touching your mouth. Drug users can spread it by sharing needles.
People who attended the following concerts are urged to monitor for symptoms and seek medical help if they become ill:
Aug. 26: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Aug. 29: Arctic Monkeys
Aug. 30: Foreigner
Sept. 1: Disturbed
Sept. 2: Beck and Phoenix concert
Sept. 3: Pentatonix
Sept. 5: Rob Zombie
Sept. 6: Smashing Pumpkins
Those who attended Jason Aldean's Sept. 8 concert still have time to get a hepatitis A vaccine to protect themselves, said Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County medical director.
“The window for vaccination to help prevent illness from hepatitis A is through (Sept. 23) for those individuals who attended the Jason Aldean concert and ate at the Ivy Lounge," he said in a statement. "For anyone who is not vaccinated for hepatitis A, we encourage getting vaccination to protect against future exposures."
What are hepatitis A symptoms?
Symptoms include sudden abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dark urine, and vomiting followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Symptoms may appear from two to six weeks after exposure, with the average time being about one month. In rare cases of hepatitis A infection, those with a pre-existing severe illness or a compromised immune system can progress to liver failure.
In 2016, Michigan had the nation's largest hepatitis A outbreak. Over the span of the following three years, at least 980 Michiganders were infected with the virus. Among them, 738 people — about 80% — were hospitalized, and 30 died, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
More: 3 years after hepatitis A outbreak started in Michigan, 30 people have died
In 2020 and 2021, with low rates of infection, the state was no longer considered in an outbreak.
How can I avoid hepatitis A?
The Oakland County Health Division recommends getting the hepatitis A vaccine, along with adhering to the following practices:
Wash hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing and eating food. Rub hands vigorously with soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds. Handwashing is essential and one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection.
Clean and disinfect all surface areas if someone in the household or workplace has symptoms, especially areas such as toilets, sinks, trashcans, doorknobs and faucet handles.
Do not prepare food if you have symptoms and refrain from food preparation for at least three days after symptoms have ended, or two weeks after onset of clinical symptoms, whichever is longer.
Where can I get a hepatitis A vaccine?
You can ask your doctor for a vaccine, check with your local health department or pharmacy. The Oakland County Health Division also offers hepatitis A vaccines at the following locations:
North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac
South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the number of concerts where people were exposed to hepatitis A at the Ivy Lounge. It has been corrected to nine concerts, not eight.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pine Knob concertgoers may have been exposed to hepatitis A
