At least 24 cases of acute hepatitis in Hawaii have been linked to OxyElite Pro, a dietary supplement, according to a health advisory issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eleven people diagnosed with acute hepatitis and liver damage in Hawaii have been hospitalized, Two of whom received liver transplants. One person has died. The outbreak is being investigated by state and federal health officials.
Attorney Fred Pritzker and his Bad Bug Law Team® are also investigating the outbreak of hepatitis liver injury. Pritzker and his team represent hepatitis victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against manufacturers. “Our goal is to hold wrongdoers accountable,” said Pritzker. “If safety is the number one concern, products do not get contaminated with dangerous pathogens like hepatitis.” According to Pritzker, people sickened by an over-the-counter medical product can sue to recover medical expenses, lost income and compensation for pain and suffering.
The FDA was alerted to the outbreak by the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) after it found the common link to OxyElite Pro. Today, the FDA issued a health advisory urging consumers to stop using any dietary supplement products labeled as OxyElite Pro while the investigation continues. OxyElite Pro is distributed by USPlabs LLC of Dallas, Texas, and is sold nation-wide through a wide range of distribution channels, including the internet and retail stores that sell dietary supplements.
The Hawaii DOH is conducting the epidemiological investigation in the state with help from the CDC. The CDC is is being conducted by the Hawaii DOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is also looking at other cases of liver injury nationwide that may be related.
CDC is assisting the Hawaii DOH in its epidemiological investigation by reviewing the medical records and histories of hepatitis patients in Hawaii. The FDA is assisting by analyzing the composition of product samples that have been collected from some of these patients. In addition, the FDA is inspecting the facilities involved in manufacturing the product and reviewing production and product distribution records. USPlabs LLC is claiming that counterfeit versions of OxyElite Pro are being marketed in the United States. The FDA is investigating whether any counterfeit product is related to any of the cases of acute hepatitis.
Symptoms of all types of hepatitis are similar and can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay or gray-colored bowel movements, joint pain, yellow eyes, and jaundice. Anyone suffering from any of these symptoms should seek medical care and tell the doctor if OxyElite Pro was used prior to illness.
