A possible hepatitis A exposure at Chick-fil-A in Grand Forks, North Dakota has been reported by the North Dakota Health & Human Services agency. That restaurant is located at the University of North Dakota Memorial Union at 3625 Campus Road in Grand Forks. Anyone who ate there during the following dates and times may have been exposed to the virus. The dates and times are: January 15, 2024: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. January 16, 2024: 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. January 17, 2024: 5 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. January 22, 2024: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. January 23, 2024: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. January 24, 2024: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. January 26, 2024: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. February 4, 2024: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. February 6, 2024: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. February 7, 2024: 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Since … [Read more...]
CDC Says 287 Kids Have Lead Poisoning From WanaBana Purees
The CDC says that 287 kids have lead poisoning after allegedly consuming WanaBana fruit puree products containing cinnamon. There are 80 confirmed cases, 187 probable cases, and 20 suspect cases. The states where the sick children live are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The cases are defined as follows. A "suspect" case is anyone with a blood lead level of 3.5 μg/dL (micrograms per decaliter) or higher detected through … [Read more...]
Gills Diced Onion Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 73 in 22 States
A Gills diced onion Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 73 people in 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fifteen of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (17), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (3), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to September 25, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 90 years old. Of the 65 people who gave information to public health investigators, 15, or 23%, have been … [Read more...]
Number Six Outbreak of 2022: Hepatitis in Strawberries
The number six outbreak of 2022 was the hepatitis in strawberries outbreak that sickened at least 19 people in four states. Thirteen of those patients were hospitalized, which is very high for this type of outbreak. This hepatitis A outbreak ended in August 2022. The illnesses were linked to HEB organic strawberries and FreshKampo strawberries. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (16), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). Illness onset dates ranged from March 28, 2022 to May 6, 2022. The patient age range was from 9 to 73 years. There were 18 confirmed cases and one probable case. The outbreak was solved through epidemiologic and traceback evidence. Seventy-three percent of patients said they ate fresh organic strawberries before they got sick. The strawberries … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Ends with 18 Sick 13 Hospitalized
The strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has ended with 18 sick, including one probable case, and 13 hospitalized, including 1 probable case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The illness were linked to FreshKampo and HEB organic strawberries. The case count by state is: California (16), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). Illness onset dates range from March 28, 2022 to May 6, 2022. The patient age range was from 9 to 73 years. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence has indicated that fresh organic strawberries were the likely source of this outbreak. In interviews, 73% of patients reported eating fresh organic strawberries before they got sick. If you purchased either brand of strawberries during the time period of March 5, 2022 through April 15, … [Read more...]
One More Probable Hepatitis A Strawberries Case Added
One more probable hepatitis A strawberries case has been added to the investigation into the outbreak linked to that fruit, according to the FDA. That person has been hospitalized. We do not know where that person lives, or the age range of any of the patients. We do know that the last illness onset date was May 6, 2022. And the recall of Urban Remedy Tea that was reported on June 10, 2022 is now considered a market withdrawal, since that product was not made with the recalled strawberries. The strawberries were imported from Baja, California and branded as FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier. The berries that caused these illnesses were purchased between March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022. They are obviously past their shelf life, but some consumers may have processed and … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows with 13 Hospitalized
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...]
Minnesota Strawberry Hepatitis Outbreak Sickens One, 16 in CA and ND
A Minnesota Strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has sickened one person in that state, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, and has also sickened 16 other people in California and North Dakota. Twelve people are hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high hospitalization rate. The person who lives in Minnesota was not hospitalized and has recovered. The fresh, organic strawberries are branded FreshKampo and HB. They were sold at various stores around the country from March 5, 2022 to April 25, 2022. The Minnesota patient purchased the strawberries from Mississippi Market on March 21, 2022. The berries were labeled FreshKampo. While the strawberries are no longer available for sale, some people may have frozen them for later use or made recipes that were frozen. … [Read more...]