The multi-state hepatitis A outbreak linked to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix sold at Costco stores has grown to include 151 sickened. Sixty-six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. No deaths have been reported.
The case count by state is: Arizona (22), California (74), Colorado (27), Hawaii (8), New Mexico (9), Nevada (6), Utah (3), and Wisconsin (2). The age range of patients is from 1 to 84 years. Fifty-seven percent of patients are between the ages of 40 and 64 years. All ill persons who reported eating the recalled Townsend Farms products bought it from Costco stores. The outbreak strain of the hepatitis A virus was found in clinical specimens of 89 people in seven states.
If you ate or touched this product, please contact your doctor to see if post exposure protection against the hepatitis A virus is appropriate for you. If not, monitor yourself for the symptoms of hepatitis A, which include fever, diarrhea, nausea, light colored stool, yellow eyes and skin, dark colored urine, tiredness, loss of appetite, and abdominal cramps. Some people who are infected with the virus may not have any signs or symptoms. The first symptoms an appear any time from 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus. People are most contagious in the middle of the incubation period and for about a week after they show signs of jaundice.
This product may still be in home freezers. Please check your freezer to see if you have it. Discard the product and wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap after handling it.
