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...]
West Virginia Hard Hit by Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A Outbreak
West Virgina has been hard hit by the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A outbreak. Five people in West Virginia are among more than 70 confirmed cases in seven states who developed Hepatitis A infections after drinking a smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Other cases in West Virginia have been reported and are still under investigation. State health officials are working with health departments in Berkeley and Jefferson counties to investigate reports of illnesses associated with frozen strawberries imported from Egypt and served at Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations. Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. It is spread from person to person and when infected people handle foods or beverages that are consumed by others. People with Hepatitis A infections can be contagious … [Read more...]
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A Outbreak Expands to 7 States
The Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A outbreak has expanded to seven states. At least 70 people have been sickened and 32 of them have been hospitalized, which is a hospitalization rate that is more than double the average for this illness. Frozen strawberries imported from Egypt have been identified as the likely source of this outbreak. Tropical Smoothie Cafe reported that the contaminated strawberries were removed from all locations by August 8 and that stores nationwide have all received frozen strawberries from a new supplier. At this time, no other restaurants or retailers have been identified as having received the tainted strawberries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Federal health officials say that while the contaminated food source has … [Read more...]
35 Sick in Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A Outbreak
The Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A outbreak now includes 35 people, an increase of seven cases since the last update from the Virginia Department of Health. The most recent report of onset of illness is August 19, according to a health department spokeswoman. At of Friday, August 26, 2016, the 35 cases had been reported in four parts of the state: 14 in Northern Virginia, 5 in Northwest Virginia, 10 in Eastern Virginia, and 6 in Central Virginia. The outbreak has been linked to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. Anyone who has ordered a smoothie or other food containing frozen strawberries from at a Tropical Smoothie Cafe in recent weeks should see a doctor and mention exposure to Hepatitis A. Symptoms of a Hepatitis A infection include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries From China Sickened 11,000 in Germany
Frozen strawberries from China sickened 11,000 people in Germany in the fall of 2012, according to a new report. A single caterer distributed the berries within the country, mostly to schools and childcare facilities. In total, children at 390 schools and child care facilities were exposed to the contaminated berries. All of the affected locations served the tainted berries for lunch. The following day, September 27, 2012, reports of illness began pouring in to health agencies. The kitchens at the facilities prepared the frozen strawberries in different ways. In some cases, they were defrosted and sugared. In others, they were poured into boiling water and briefly boiled. In facilities not affected by the outbreak, the kitchens served the strawberries after boiling them. Norovirus … [Read more...]
