The hepatitis A outbreak in Southeast Michigan continues to grow. As of October 12, 2017, there are 397 cases in City of Detroit, and counties of Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne, and St Clair. Most of those patients have been hospitalized; 320, or 85.6%. And 15 people have died. Many of those sickened include the homeless, people with documented substance abuse, but some are healthcare workers and food workers. Most of the cases are male. Officials have not said if the four cases of food workers we have reported on are part of this larger outbreak. Those cases worked at the Meijer store in Mount Pleasant, Cardamom restaurant in Ann Arbor, and food workers at Uncle Paul’s Pizza at 21215 Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods, and Cabbage Patch Cafe & Catering at 15110 Kercheval … [Read more...]
California Declares State of Emergency in Hepatitis A Outbreak
The state of California has been dealing with the largest hepatitis A outbreak in the state's history. The virus is being spread person-to-person, but since several businesses have reported ill employees in the past few weeks, contaminated food may also be to blame. As of October 6, 2017, there are 576 cases of hepatitis A in that state. Three hundred forty-two people have been hospitalized, which is a very high number for this type of outbreak. And the number of vaccinations distributed by the California Department of Public Heath has reached more than 80,000. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency because of a lack of vaccines in the hepatitis A outbreak in that state that has killed eighteen people. This means the California Department of Public Health can buy and … [Read more...]
San Diego County Declares Hepatitis A Emergency
A Hepatitis A emergency has been declared in San Diego County in California. Public health officials have been tracking this outbreak for months. As of August 29, 2017, 378 cases have been diagnosed. Fifteen deaths have been attributed to this illness, and 263 people have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 70%. The emergency was declared on September 1, 2017. The local health emergency will stay in effect for seven days unless it is extended. Most of those who contracted this illness, about 70%, are homeless or illicit drug uses. Some cases, however, have been neither. The outbreak is being spread person-to-person and through contact with human feces. Officials have not been able to identify a common source of food, beverages, or drugs. The county is asking that … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Outbreak in Oakland County, Michigan Grows
Eight new cases of hepatitis A in the last week have been diagnosed in Oakland County, Michigan, according to the Health Division. Food Poisoning Bulletin reported in March 2017 that there were skyrocketing cases of the viral illness in that county, along with the counties of Wayne and Macomb and in Detroit itself. These eight new cases are associated with the Farmington Hills area. The Health Department has not identified a source of the outbreak, but is investigating contaminated food, sick people, travel, and healthcare exposure. Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for Oakland County said in a statement, "These new cases serve as a vital reminder of why it is critical to get vaccinated. The Health Division urges all residents, food handlers, and healthcare providers to get the … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Cases Increase in San Diego County
According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, there is a spike in hepatitis A cases in the area. Forty-two cases have been reported in the area since November 2016. That is more than four times the monthly average that is typically reported. Thirty-six people have been hospitalized, and two people died from their illness. Twenty-three of those sickened are men. The patient age range is from 26 to 782 years, with an average age of 42 years. Twenty-nine of those patients have a history of substance abuse, and 27 are homeless. Five of the patients got sick after they traveled out of the country. Public health officials have not identified a common source of the infection. Dr. Wilma Wooten, the County public health officer said in a statement, "The County is … [Read more...]
Skyrocketing Rates of Hepatitis A in Detroit, Michigan Counties
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is warning the public they are seeing elevated numbers of new hepatitis A cases in Detroit and in the counties of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne. Cases have increased eightfold over the same time period in 2015 - 2016. Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of MDHHS, said in a statement, "together with our local health partners, we are increasing outreach to vulnerable populations to raise awareness and promote vaccination of hepatitis A. Those who live, work, or play in the city of Detroit, as well as Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties are urged to get vaccinated for hepatitis A and talk to their healthcare provider about their risks." From August 1, 2016 to March 21, 2017, 107 cases of lab-confirmed hepatitis A have … [Read more...]
Second Largest Foodborne Illness Outbreak of 2016: Hepatitis A in Strawberries
The second largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2016 was the hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen strawberries served at Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurants in the eastern United States. At least 143 people in 9 states were sickened in this outbreak. And 56 of those patients were hospitalized. Reports of hepatitis A illnesses starting coming in to the Virginia Health Department. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicate that frozen strawberries imported from Egypt were the likely source of this outbreak. In interviewed, almost all of those sickened said they drank smoothies made with strawberries at Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations before August 8, 2016 in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. There are fourteen cases with no connection to … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Investigation Ends
The hepatitis A outbreak linked to strawberries imported from Egypt and sold at Tropical Smoothie Café restaurants in the eastern United States is over, according to the CDC. As of December 16, 2016, 143 people were sickened in 9 states in this outbreak. Fifty-six people were hospitalized because their illnesses were so serious, and no one died. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence found that frozen strawberries imported by the International Company for Agricultural Products & Processing (ICAPP) from Egypt were the likely source of this outbreak. Strawberries imported into the United States since January 1, 2016 were recalled by ICAAP on October 30, 2016. The FDA did find the hepatitis A virus in multiple samples of ICAPP frozen strawberries. The berries were distributed … [Read more...]
Five States List Facilities that Received Hepatitis A Strawberries
Five states have posted notices, either on their Facebook pages or on their state web sites, about the facilities that may have received frozen strawberries imported from Egypt that are associated with a hepatitis A outbreak. At least 134 people in 9 states have been diagnosed with the viral illness since the summer of 2016. Most of those patients ate smoothies made with the frozen strawberries at Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Officials from Wyoming, Texas, California, Michigan, and Colorado have posted public health alerts about this issue. No hepatitis A illnesses have been linked to the berries sold in these locations, or in any other locations other than the original outbreak area, but the illness can take up to 50 … [Read more...]
Hawaii Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows by One New Case
The hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii linked to imported raw scallops served at Genki Sushi locations has increased by one. As of November 2, 2016, 292 people have been sickened in this outbreak. Seventy-four patients, or 25%, have been hospitalized. Eleven of the patients are residents of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, or Maui. Seven visitors have returned to the mainland or overseas. All of the remaining patients live on the island of Oahu. The maximum 50-day incubation period for this outbreak has passed, since the suspect food was embargoed on August 15, 2016. The scallops at the center of this outbreak were Sea Port Bay Scallops from the Philippines served raw at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai. Public health investigators found the hepatitis A virus in that … [Read more...]
