Lake Louise resort food handler exposes patrons to hepatitis A

I visited Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta (that’s in Canada) a couple of years ago and came away thinking it would be a great place to be a stoner ski bum. A beautiful spot with lots of vacationing folks, seasonal workers and decent food and bars. And hepatitis A exposure.

According to the Penticton Herald, a hot drink food handler at the Lake Louise ski resort’s Powderkeg Lounge has the virus.556596_10152080652605367_1991479126_n

Health officials say customers who ate or drank hot beverages at the Powderkeg Lounge in Lake Louise between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 may have been exposed.

The health agency says patrons who consumed cold beverages are not at risk of exposure and do not need a vaccine.

Clinics are being held in Calgary and Banff in the next couple of days — the vaccine is only effective if administered within two weeks of exposure.

“While we believe the risk to the public is low, hepatitis A is a serious infection,” Dr. Judy MacDonald, medical health officer for the Calgary zone, said in a release Thursday.

Lake Louise is about to host World Cup men’s and women’s downhill ski races. The men arrive early next week for training runs ahead of races Nov. 28-29. The women compete Dec. 4-6.