FDA is weighing in on the wild harvest oysters Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least eight people in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Any retailers and restaurants that have received wild harvest oysters from harvest area FL-3012 in Cedar Key, Florida, harvested between December 16, 2022 and February 24, 2023 should be discarded. Consumers who bought those oysters at retail in those three states should also discard them. The FDA says it's possible that other states may have received the oysters. So if you purchased raw oysters, check the packaging to see if they were harvested in that area. A Salmonella outbreak linked to those oysters has been detected by the state health departments in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Eight cases are linked to this outbreak. We do not … [Read more...]
Raw Oyster Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Eight in FL, GA, AL
A raw oyster Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least eight people in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, according to the Florida Department of Health. And a recall of oysters has been issued. We do not know the patient age range, illness onset dates, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services closed shellfish harvesting area FL-3012 in Cedar Key, Florida for the harvest of wild oysters on February 24, 2023. A recall of those oysters from that area that were harvested from December 16, 2022 to February 24, 2023 has been issued. If you bought these oysters harvested from that area, do not eat them, or if you sell them or own a restaurant, do not serve them, even if you plan to cook them first because of the possibility … [Read more...]
California Hepatitis Cases Added to List of Severe Illness Reports
California has ben added to the list of states reporting severe child hepatitis cases, joining Alabama, Illinois, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. There are seven California hepatitis cases, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The World Health Organization has received reports of at least 169 cases of severe pediatric hepatitis, mostly from Europe. In the United States, there are least 25 cases: nine in Alabama, two in North Carolina, three in Illinois, four in Wisconsin, and seven in California. So far there has been one death in Wisconsin, and four of these children have needed liver transplants. In most of these cases, the children had gastrointestinal symptoms before jaundice appeared. No common exposure has been found, but doctors think that adenovirus is a cofactor. … [Read more...]
Child Hepatitis Cases Reported in Wisconsin With One Death
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is issuing a Health Alert Network Health Advisory because child hepatitis cases and adenovirus infections have been reported in that state. Officials are investigating at least four cases in Wisconsin. One child needed a liver transplant and one child died. This alleged outbreak was first reported in Alabama from November 2021 to February 2022, where nine children were sickened. Two of those children needed liver transplants. Then, three cases were announced in Illinois on April 25, 2022, with one liver transplant reported. More than 100 cases of severe hepatitis in children under the age of 10 have been reported around the world. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that can be caused by alcohol use, toxins, medications, some … [Read more...]
Three Potential Severe Hepatitis Cases in Children in Illinois
The problem with severe hepatitis cases in children has now spread to Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). There are more than a hundred children sickened around the world in this outbreak that may be linked to a certain strain of adenovirus. The children are all under the age of 10. One child living in Illinois required a liver transplant. Nine children who live in Alabama are also sick. Two of those children have required liver transplants. Those children range in age from one to six years. All were previously healthy, and none had COVID-19. In Illinois, two of the cases are in suburban Chicago, and one is in Western Illinois. IDPH is working to learn of other suspected cases and is asking healthcare providers in the state to be alert for … [Read more...]
CDC Issues Alert For Adenovirus Testing in Children With Acute Hepatitis
The CDC has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Alert for conducting adenovirus testing in children with acute Hepatitis. This comes after reports from Alabama of nine children under the age of 10 presenting with symptoms of severe hepatitis. Three of those children were in acute liver failure; those patients tested positive for adenovirus. Officials think these illnesses may be related to adenovirus 41. None of the children had COVID-19 and none had any previous health conditions. Two of the patients required liver transplants. Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E are viruses, but hepatitis just means inflammation of the liver, and can be caused by chemicals, toxins, medications, alcohol use, and other viruses. Patients with liver inflammation can get very sick and suffer liver failure; … [Read more...]
Alabama Severe Pediatric Hepatitis Cases May Be Adenovirus
Alabama severe pediatric hepatitis cases may be adenovirus, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The CDC, along with pediatric healthcare providers, are investigating this increase in cases. The children, who live in different areas of Alabama, presented with symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness and varying degree of liver injury, including liver failure. There is a possible association with Adenovirus 41. Nine children under the age of 10 have tested positive for adenovirus. Two of these children have needed liver transplants. An epidemiological link among the patients has not be established. None of the children had any underlying health conditions before they got sick. ADPH has issued a Health Alert Network notification on February 1, 2022 to try to … [Read more...]
Alabama E. coli Outbreak Sickens Four Children, Two WIth Rotavirus
An Alabama E. coli outbreak has sickened four children in the northeastern part of the state. In addition, the Alabama Department of Public Health is investigating two cases of rotavirus. Rotavirus was the leading cause of severe diarrhea among infanta and young children in the U.S. before the vaccine for this pathogen was introduced in 2006. The incident of this illness has decreased significantly after the vaccine. There is no more information about this E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, including if food is involved or if there is another source such as animals. We do not know the ages of the four sick children, when they got sick, or if any of them have been hospitalized or have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Children under the age of … [Read more...]
Huddle House Hepatitis A Employee Diagnosed in Hamilton, Alabama
A Huddle House hepatitis A case has been diagnosed in an employee of the restaurant, which is located at 210 River Road in Hamilton, Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The worker was a food handler who worked there from July 9, 2021 through July 21, 2021. Anyone who ate food there, whether it was dine-in, pickup, or delivery, may have been exposed to the virus. Dr. Burnestine Taylor, Medical Officer for Disease Control and Prevention, ADPH said in a statement, "Adults with hepatitis A may have symptoms that include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice. These symptoms usually resolve within two months of infection. Children less than 6 years of age generally do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection. Almost all … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Applebee’s Restaurant Employee in Montgomery, AL
Hepatitis A in Applebee's restaurant employee in Montgomery, Alabama has been diagnosed, according to a notice by the Alabama Public Health Department. That restaurant is located at 3195 Taylor Road in Montgomery. The restaurant was closed for a day of cleaning out of an abundance of caution, and had no violations during a recent environmental inspection. Anyone who ate food at that restaurant, whether it was dine-in, delivery, or pickup, from July 8, 2021 through July 16, 2021 may have been exposed to the virus. All of those patrons are eligible for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. That vaccine is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, so anyone who ate there on July 8, 2021 needs to get the shot today. You can get the vaccine from your doctors office … [Read more...]
