Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County Dr. Douglas Holt is scheduled to appear before the Hillsborough County Commission at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
The doctor is set to discuss Hepatitis A and answer questions about how the department makes the public aware of any issues surrounding Hepatitis A.
It comes after the department warned the public about a worker at Hamburger Mary’s who had Hepatitis A.
The restaurant is is gay-themed in Ybor City and closed shortly after the public was told about the worker. Owner Kurt King blames the notification on the permanent closure.
“I tried to reopen but when you have news people outside your front door telling people we exposed everybody to Hepatitis, everybody went away, our sales went away. How can I stay open?” King previously told News Channel 8.
The department warned the public that the worker at the restaurant tested positive for Hepatitis A and urged customers who visited from Oct. 4 to Oct. 20 to get tested.
King told News Channel 8 that the test actually came back negative and believes Holt targeted the restaurant because it’s gay-themed.
“I think what he did was wrong. They didn’t care about us,” he said.
King has hired legal counsel and may soon file a lawsuit, he said.
An American Civil Liberties Union spokeswoman said the organization is reviewing the situation and has requested documents related to it.
Holt is expected to answer a list of questions provided by the Commission.
Supporters of Hamburger Mary’s plan to speak.
Hamburger Mary’s has other locations in the Bay area. Those restaurants were not affected, King said.
