Soapless Posh Club in NYC Could Spread Hepatitis A

Feb. 22, 2008 — -- A swanky nightclub in New York City is making headlines for something far less glamorous than the A-list celebs who show up to party there night after night.

Rather than clamoring for the usual fare of $12 cocktails, celebrity patrons of Socialista may instead be lining up for hepatitis A vaccinations after a bartender working there was hospitalized with the infectious disease.

A laundry list of high-profile celebrities were partying at the club Feb. 7, one of the nights the New York City Department of Health said the infected bartender was on duty. Ashton Kutcher's birthday party was that night, which brought Demi Moore, Madonna, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ivanka Trump and Bruce Willis to the club.

Anywhere between 700 and 800 people visited the bar over the three nights the employee was on duty, according to the city health department, which released a statement.

"Any patron who visited the establishment after 8 p.m. Feb. 7 or 8, or after 10 p.m. on Feb. 11 is considered to be at risk and needs a preventive shot," the statement read.

Employees who answered phone calls at Socialista did not want their names revealed nor did they want to elaborate on the incident, but one told ABC News that the employee in question, who has been identified only as Leif, was "a good friend."

She declined to comment further, because she said she "truly cared about the restaurant."

In an e-mail message to ABCNEWS.com, Socialista's owner, Armin Armiri, said, "Although no additional cases of illness have been identified, the New York City Department of Health is urging customers to get the vaccination as a precautionary measure. We are grateful for their efforts and we will continue to support them in every way possible."

Calls to publicists of several of the celebrities who attended the party were no immediately returned.

Hepatitis A, a liver disease, is contracted by putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated with fecal matter from an infected person. It is frequently spread when an infected person fails to wash his or his hands after using the toilet.

Because the disease is highly contagious at it's peak -- usually 10 days before the patient notices symptoms and seeks medical attention -- doctors and hospitals must report any patient who is diagnosed with the infection. The health department must then notify anyone who may have been in contact with the individual.

Signs of infection include severe diarrhea, nausea, fatigue and sometimes jaundice, a yellowing of the eyes and skin. There is no antibiotic treatment, and those who get it must let it run its course, which usually takes about a month.