Ybor City Hamburger Mary's closed after Hepatitis A diagnosis, inspection

TAMPA (FOX 13) - An Ybor City restaurant was temporarily closed as of Thursday night after one of its employees tested positive for Hepatitis A, according to the Hillsborough County Department of Health.

The case forced an inspection of Hamburger Mary's, the findings of which included dozens of dead cockroaches and hundreds of rodent droppings in various locations in the restaurant.

Health officials are now warning anyone who dined at the restaurant from October 4 to October 20 to get the Hepatitis A vaccination.

Hamburger Mary's, meanwhile, faces backlash from some of its most frequent customers.

"Some of us have come there for a long time," Yvonne Wainwright said. "This should not have happened."

"This is fecal, oral, so it means that could be on someone's hands if they don't wash their hands appropriately," FOX 13's Dr. Jo said. "After going to the bathroom and then it becomes ingested by someone else."

Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspected the restaurant Wednesday. The resulting report cited 26 violations. Ten of them were considered high priority, meaning if not corrected they could directly contribute to a foodborne illness.

"It's a little alarming," Kristie Oliver said. "To think something like this is going on in just a run-of-the-mill place."

Among the violations were 36 dead cockroaches found as well as 250 rodent droppings. The inspector also noting one employee could be seen touching a bare body part and then engaging in food preparation.

"I will not be Uber eating from Hamburger Mary's anymore," Wainwright said. "Until they clean up their act."

Waintwright is one of several now getting the Hepatitis A vaccination at the Hillsborough County Health Department, which is temporarily extending its hours.

The vaccine considered the best way to prevent Hepatitis A. The health department is now offering the vaccine free to anyone who dined at the restaurant from October 4 to October 20. To get it, go to the Sulphur Springs location Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The clinic is located at 8605 Mitchell Avenue in Tampa.

As for the restaurant re-opening, that can happen as soon as all the violations listed in the inspection report are corrected.