The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has grown again to include 18 sick in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases are potentially linked to conventionally grown blackberries sold at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores and Woodman's Market stores in several states from September 9, 2019 through September 30, 2019. The case count by state is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), and Wisconsin (5). Illness onset dates range from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Ten people, or 59% of those interviewed, have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage for a hepatitis A outbreak. This outbreak could still grow, since hepatitis A … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 16 in 6 States
The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 16 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has found that those sickened in this outbreak ate fresh, conventionally grown blackberries from that store chain. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (2), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (7), Wisconsin (4), and Missouri (1). The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Illness onset dates ranges from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. Of 15 people who gave information about their health to the government, 9, or 60%, have been hospitalized. That is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. Of people who were interviewed, 15 out of 15 said they ate fresh … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Has Now Sickened 14
The Fresh Thyme Blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened at least 14 people in five states, according to the FDA. Minnesota has been added to the states where ill persons live. The other states with patients are Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. That's an increase of three more patients in the last four days since the first investigation announcement. Eight people have been hospitalized because they are so sick, which is a very high hospitalization rate for hepatitis A outbreaks. The last illness onset date was November 15, 2019. Since it can take two weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear, this outbreak is likely to grow. Based on epidemiological information, patients said they ate fresh conventionally grown blackberries purchased from Fresh Thyme Market … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. The CDC recommends that anyone who bought fresh conventionally grown blackberries at any Fresh Thyme Farmers Market location during the time frame of September 9 through September 30, 2019 not eat them. As of November 20, 2019, there are eleven people ill in three states. The case count by state is: Indiana (2), Nebraska (6), and Wisconsin (3). Illness onset dates range from October 15, 2019 to November 5, 2019. The patient age range is from 14 to 73 years. Fifty-five percent of patients have been hospitalized. In interviews, patients answered questions about the foods they ate before they got sick. All of … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries Associated With Hepatitis A Outbreak
Fresh Thyme Farmers Blackberries are associated with a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. Six of those people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a grocery store chain with facilities across the Midwest. The people who are sick live in Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The blackberries in question are conventionally grown, not organic. Epidemiological evidence shows that patients ate fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores. While patients are sick in three states, traceback information shows that the berries come from a distribution center that ships the blackberries to Fresh Thyme stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, … [Read more...]
CDC Tracks the Hepatitis A Outbreaks Across the Country
The CDC is keeping track of the hepatitis A outbreaks across the country that have sickened thousands and killed many Americans. Since the first outbreak was identified in 2016, 30 states have declared emergencies because of the illnesses in their area. As of September 6, 2019, there have been 25,484 cases of hepatitis A diagnosed across the country. Of those cases, 15,330 patients, or 60%, have been hospitalized, and 254 people have died. Hepatitis A is a very contagious virus that attacks the liver. People who are more likely to suffer serious complications from this infection are those with compromised immune systems and chronic illnesses, as well as people with liver disease. The states with the most cases in these hepatitis A outbreaks are: Florida (2903), Indiana … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Outbreak at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in New Jersey
A hepatitis A outbreak has sickened 23 people after they visited the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in Mendham Township, New Jersey. This is a members only club. A food handler was diagnosed with hepatitis A and worked at the club while infectious. One person is "seriously ill," according to the press release by the New Jersey Department of Health. The food handler was excluded from work, and the remaining workers were reviewed for vaccination and proof of immunity from the virus. Close contacts of the food handler were given vaccinations. MGTC notified their members of the risk on July 5, 2019. That notification advices the members to inform anyone who ate with them at the club, and told them to get vaccinations. The food worker was at the club from June 9 and June 30, … [Read more...]
FDA Sampling Frozen Berries For Hepatitis A and Norovirus
The FDA is sampling frozen berries for both hepatitis A and norovirus, in the wake of three hepatitis A outbreaks and one norovirus outbreak linked to those products from 1997 to 2016. Two of those hepatitis A outbreaks, one in 2013 and the other in 2016, sickened more than 300 people in this country. The 2013 outbreak was linked to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, a mix of frozen berries, and sickened at least 162 people in 10 states with hepatitis A infections. The source of the virus was eventually determined to be pomegranate seeds that were imported from Goknur Foodstuffs Import Export Trading in Turkey. The 2016 outbreak, which sickened at least 143 people in 9 states, was linked to frozen strawberries made into smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurants in … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Outbreak Associated with Doino’s Pizzeria in Cheektowaga, New York; Lawsuits Are Possible
A hepatitis A outbreak is associated with Doino's Pizzeria Bar and Grille at 2709 Harlem Road in Cheektowaga, New York. That's near Buffalo, New York. Mark Poloncarz, of Erie County, New York, posted this information on his Facebook page. There is no info about this outbreak on the Erie County Department of Health page. A cook there was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Three people have been sickened. Anyone who ate at that restaurant from August 20, 2018 to September 3, 2018, may have been infected. Unfortunately, it's too late for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination, since those are only effective when given within 2 weeks of exposure. The outbreak was only announced yesterday, October 1, 2018. Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, … [Read more...]
Employee at The Back Corner in Nashville, TN Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
An employee at The Back Corner, an entertainment venue at 1413 5th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Nashville Public Health Department. The Metro Public Health Department (MPDH) is issuing a public notice and will offer free hepatitis A vaccinations to customers who visited that facility on June 28, 29, or 30, 2018. A vaccination is only good for 14 days after the day of exposure. That means that anyone who was at The Back Corner on June 28, 2018, will have to be vaccinated by tomorrow, July 12, 2018. The MPHD locations offering the shots are: Lentz Public Health Center at 2500 Charlotte Avenue 37209, East Health Center at 1015 East Trinity Lane 37206, and Woodbine Health Center at 224 Oriel Avenue 37210. The hours of … [Read more...]
