Hepatitis A warning for people who ate at Beach Chalet, Sunrise Beach A HEPATITIS A warning has been issued for people who ate at a Sunshine Coast cafe between October 10 and November 1. The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service said people who dined out or went to the toilet at the Beach Chalet Shop in Tingira Crescent, Sunrise Beach, during the three week period may need to be vaccinated to reduce their risk of hepatitis A. But a health service spokeswoman said the vaccination needed to be given within two weeks of a person attending the shop to be effective. She said Beach Chalet customers should consult with their general practitioners about whether a vaccination was necessary. "If it is too late to be vaccinated, people should be aware of the onset of symptoms which include fever, generalised aches and pains, nausea, lack of appetite and abdominal discomfort," the spokeswoman said. Dark urine is usually the first specific sign of acute hepatitis A, often followed a day or two later by jaundice. The severity and duration of the illness varies but most people feel better by the third week. The health service spokeswoman said hand washing and good hygiene practices were the most effective ways of reducing the spread of hepatitis A. She said the disease was usually more serious in adults than in children. "In adults, hepatitis A occasionally presents as a serious disease lasting several months," the spokeswoman said. For more information: health.qld.gov.au and search for the hepatitis A fact sheet.