Queensland cafe at the centre of hepatitis scare

Customers of a Sunshine Coast cafe have been warned they may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

Health officials say anyone who ate, drank or used the toilets at the Beach Chalet Shop at Sunrise Beach between October 10 and November 1 might have been exposed.

They won't say if the warning was sparked by an infected staff member or a customer.

"These people may need vaccination to reduce the risk of developing hepatitis A if it can be provided within two weeks of the last exposure," the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service said.

It said anyone who went to the cafe should be aware of the onset of symptoms, which include fever, aches and pains, nausea, a lack of appetite and abdominal discomfort.

Dark urine is usually the first specific sign of acute hepatitis A, often followed a day or two later by jaundice and pale coloured bowel motions.

Anyone who believes they might have been exposed has been urged to see their doctor and check their vaccination records.

Hepatitis A is an acute infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. It's usually more serious in adults than in children.