HOUSTON -- Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) has been notified that a member of the wait staff at Pappasito's Cantina has tested positive for Hepatitis A.

The employee was reported to have worked at the restaurant while he was infectious.

Any one working or eating at the restaurant between Jan. 23-27; Jan. 30-31; Feb. 1, 3 and 7-8; may have been exposed to the liver disease.

Most people recover from Hepatitis A without any major long-term health problems after several weeks. It is passed from person to person when someone does not wash their hands well after going to the bathroom.

A person with the virus is infectious from about two weeks before to one week after the person experiences jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). Infants and children who are infected do not always have symptoms, but they are still infectious.

People who already have liver problems, however, can become very ill if they get Hepatitis A, said officials.

HCPHES said they highly recommended that anyone who worked or ate at Pappasito's Cantina, located at 15280 I-45 North, receive an immune globulin (IG) shot which will help prevent developing disease.

HCPHES reported that they would provide free IG shots on Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mangum-Howell Center located at 2500 Frick Road.

The IG shots are only effective if given within a two-week period after exposure to the disease, said officials.

According to HCPHES, anyone who begins to develop the disease should contact a doctor.

Symptoms Include:

Extreme tiredness

Fever

Nausea and/or vomiting

Stomach pain or diarrhea

Light colored stool or dark, rust colored urine

Jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin)

Once someone has had Hepatitis A they cannot get it again.

People can protect themselves from getting or infecting others with Hepatitis A by washing their hands thoroughly with soap and water.

For more information, the HCPHES has set up a hotline at (713) 212-0200 it will be available Monday, Feb. 19 through Thursday, Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or visit the HCPHES Web site.