New York ( CNN ) -- More than 200 people received hepatitis A vaccinations over the weekend after learning that a Manhattan restaurant employee handling sweets was infected with the virus , according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene . Patrons of the Alta tapas restaurant in Manhattan 's West Village from March 23 to April 2 could have been exposed . Of the 239 people who received vaccinations over the weekend , 31 were restaurant employees . The restaurant believes that about 3,000 people ate at Alta tapas during the time frame , 15 % of whom -- or 450 -- ordered dessert . As of Friday , there were no confirmed cases , according to the health department , but officials advise guests who ordered desserts during the time in question to get the shot as a precaution . The health department warned the public about the infected employee Friday and began offering free vaccinations to restaurant patrons through the weekend and will continue to do so Monday . The department did not say whether there is concrete evidence that the virus ended up in food . Efforts to reach the restaurant owner Sunday were unsuccessful . Hepatitis A spreads by mouth via traces of fecal matter from an infected person , the Health Department said . If people do not wash their hands before handling food , the food could become infected even though it might look clean . The virus infects the liver and causes jaundice , which is the yellowing of the skin and eyes , fatigue , abdominal pain , nausea and diarrhea . There is no specific treatment once symptoms appear . Hepatitis A is rarely fatal , although those with liver disease or a weakened immune system could require hospitalization , according to the health department . An average of 65 cases of Hepatitis A occur in New York City each year , with one or two occurring in food handlers , according to the health department . The restaurant owner on Friday said that the infected employee is no longer `` on the premises . '' Scores of Tulsa dental patients tested for hepatitis , HIV exposure . CNN 's Ben Brumfield and Julia Talanova contributed to this report .
More than 200 people were vaccinated against hepatitis A after a scare at a NYC restaurant . An employee infected with hepatitis A handled desserts at a Manhattan tapas eatery . About 450 of 3,000 patrons may have been exposed , health department says .