The strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has now hospitalized 13 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighteen people are sick in three states, an increase of one more patient since the outbreak was announced on May 28, 2022. The CDC recommends that anyone who bought fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo or HEB from the period of March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022, and then froze those strawberries discard them immediately. If you aren't sure if you bought those brands, throw them away. If you ate those strawberries within the last two weeks, talk to your doctor about getting a hepatitis A vaccine. That vaccine is effective only if given within the first two weeks after exposure. The case count by state is: California (16), Minnesota … [Read more...]
How Are Strawberries Contaminated with Hepatitis A?
How are strawberries contaminated with hepatitis A? There is a hepatitis A outbreak in the United States that is linked to organic strawberries that were imported from Baja California in Mexico. The case count by state is: California (15), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). Because there have been so many outbreaks linked to berries, the FDA implemented a sampling program for domestic and imported frozen berries in 2018. Two hepatitis A outbreaks linked to frozen strawberries sickened more than 300 people in the United States in 2013 and 2016. The food supply is global, so many produce items, which are usually eaten uncooked, can be contaminated with pathogens like hepatitis A because the infrastructure in other countries may be not as robust as in the U.S. The CDC says that … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 17, Hospitalizes 12
A potential strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has sickened at least 17 people in three states and has hospitalized 12 of those patients, according to the FDA. That is a very high hospitalization rate. The berries are FreshKampo and HEB brands. The berries are past their shelf life and are no longer available in stores, but some consumers probably froze some for later consumption. Freezing does not kill the hepatitis A virus. The case count by state is: California (15), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). The berries were sold nationwide. Illness onset dates range from March 28, 2022 to April 30, 2022. But because it can take up to 50 days for hepatitis symptoms to appear and because some people may have preserved the berries, more cases may be diagnosed. We do not yet know the … [Read more...]
Montgomery County Updates Deadly Hepatitis A Restaurant Outbreak
Montgomery County has updated the deadly hepatitis A restaurant outbreak associated with Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria with more information. Three deaths are linked to this outbreak. There are thirteen cases under investigation. Ten are confirmed and three remain suspect. Ongoing interviews with patients have confirmed that the exposure occurred in late November and no longer presents a risk to the public. MCOPH's Division of Environmental Field Services has lifted the closure of Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria in West Norriton, Pennsylvania after a conducting a re-opening inspection on Thursday, January 20, 2022. During the inspection, public health officials emphasized the requirement of proper and thorough hand washing and glove/utensil use when handling ready-to-eat … [Read more...]
Gino’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Hepatitis A Outbreak Update
The Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria Hepatitis A outbreak has been updated with more information, according to news reports. A second death has been confirmed, and a third death is being investigated in relation to this outbreak. Ten cases are confirmed and three probable cases are under investigation by public health officials. The outbreak was confirmed by the Montgomery County Health Department in Pennsylvania on January 7, 2021, and is associated with the restaurant at this time. The restaurant is located at 2401 Main Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, located in West Norriton Township in that state. Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria management has denied responsibility for the outbreak and has issued a statement that says, in part, "We offer our heartfelt condolences to the … [Read more...]
Gino’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Closed in Deadly PA Hepatitis A Outbreak Investigation
Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria in West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania has been temporarily closed in the deadly hepatitis A outbreak announced this week by Montgomery County officials. The restaurant is located at 2401 Main Street in Norristown. The closure will remain in place while public health officials investigate this outbreak. As of January 7, 2021, 11 cases are under investigation. That is an increase of three cases since the outbreak was announced. Nine cases are confirmed. Of the nine people who are confirmed, seven have been hospitalized. One death is confirmed, and an additional death is under investigation. The exposure to the virus allegedly occurred in late November, 2021, according to the county press release. The source of the virus is under investigation. And … [Read more...]
Three Hepatitis A Deaths Linked to Famous Anthony’s Outbreak
Three hepatitis A deaths are linked to the Famous Anthony's outbreak in Roanoke, Virginia, with at least 49 illnesses and 31 hospitalizations, according to news reports. Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts officials did not release any more information about these patients. The hepatitis A outbreak began in September 2021 after an infectious employee worked at these Famous Anthony's restaurant locations in Roanoke: 4913 Grandin Road, 6499 Williamson Road, and 2221 Crystal Spring Avenue. Case counts mounted quickly in the weeks following the outbreak announcement. Since it has been more than two weeks since the last date when anyone infected in late August would likely begin to experience symptoms, this outbreak should stop growing. The last date the employees worked was … [Read more...]
Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Virginia Outbreak Sickens 50, 31 Hospitalized
The Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 50 people and hospitalized 31 as of October 26, 2021, according to news reports. A sick employee worked at that restaurant in mid to late August 2021. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts reported the increase in cases. This is an increase of 13 patients since the last update two weeks ago. It typically takes 15 to 50 days after exposure to start experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A. That means the last day an illness may begin would be around October 15, 2021. No new cases have been reported since that incubation period passed, but it can take a few weeks before a person goes to a doctor, is diagnosed, and that diagnosis is reported to public health officials. One of the cases is a secondary infection, which … [Read more...]
One Person Has Died in Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Virginia Outbreak
One person has died in Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak, as reported by several news outlets. That person had been hospitalized with complications from this infection. The patient allegedly had underlying medical conditions. No further information will be released about this person because of patient privacy and respect for the family. The outbreak began when an infectious employee worked at three Famous Anthony's restaurant locations in Roanoke, Virginia from August 10 to August 26, 2021. They are located at 4913 Grandin Road, 6499 Williamson Road, 2221 Crystal Spring Avenue. As of October 13, 2021, there were 37 people sick with the virus, and 26 of those patients were hospitalized because they were so ill. Hepatitis A can cause severe illness and death in some people, … [Read more...]
Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis Outbreak in Virginia Sickens 37
The Famous Anthony's hepatitis outbreak in Virginia has sickened 37 people as of the close of business on October 13, 2021, Christie Wills, Communications Officer of the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts told Food Poisoning Bulletin. All of those cases are confirmed, and all are primary cases, meaning that they were sickened from the original infected person. Secondary cases would be people who got sick from someone who allegedly ate at the restaurant. Twenty-six people have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 70%, which is higher than typical for a hepatitis A outbreak. The patient age range is from 31 to 79 years, with an average age of 59 years. Fifty-four percent of the hospitalizations were male. The infectious employee worked at three Famous Anthony … [Read more...]
