At least 5,000 people who have dined in a restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, are at risk of contracting Hepatitis A, health officials said.

This, after a worker at a Red Robin restaurant, which serves burgers and other food, was diagnosed with the contagious virus, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced.

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In a statement, Red Robin said the worker last worked in the restaurant on 16 May. The restaurant has also been deemed safe after inspection by the health officials, Red Robin announced.

Health officials also confirmed that the restaurant has been considered safe after a thorough inspection.

The restaurant, however, did not disclose in what area of the diner the workers was assigned before the diagnosis.

The local health department has already teamed up with state and federal authorities so that enough vaccines will be shipped to those customers who dined at the restaurants from 8 May to 16 May.

The 5,000 people who passed through the restaurants on those days will have to be vaccinated within 14 days to make sure they are safe from the virus, the local health authorities said.

The health department said it will run a two-day vaccination activity for those people who visited the restaurant on the dates specified.  All of the Red Robin workers have already been vaccinated.

A CNN report quoted a Red Robin customer as saying that his husband has been sick with a lot of symptoms matching that of Hepatitis A.

"It's scary because my husband has been sick and then we learned about the Hepatitis A issue," said the woman customer.

Mayo Clinic said the Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through contaminated food or water or by a person who is infected. The spread of the virus can be limited by frequent and thorough hand washing, authorities said.

TagsRed Robin Restaurant, Burger with Hepatitis A, Hepatitis A