2,900 Tulsa Diners Get Shots in Hepatitis Scare

TULSA, Okla. — About 2,900 people have received shots to ward off hepatitis A after eating at a Shoney’s Restaurant earlier this month where an assistant kitchen manager was infected with the disease.

Health officials said Tuesday they expect to administer the immune globulin to as many as 2,100 more patrons who ate at the Tulsa restaurant from Oct. 15 to Oct. 21.

People may have been exposed if they ate there Oct. 11 to Oct. 21, when the virus was in its “shedding period” for the infected employee. But Neil Thruston, health information specialist for the Tulsa Health Department, said a shot only helps if received within two weeks of exposure, so those who ate there before Oct. 15 should see their doctor if they develop flu-like symptoms.