A Hepatitis A outbreak linked to strawberries imported from Egypt and served Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Virginia has sickened at least 66 people in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 20 people have been hospitalized. Most of those sickened, 55, are from Virginia. The other states reporting cases are Maryland (4), West Virginia (4), North Carolina (1), Oregon (1) and Wisconsin (1). The most recent case was reported August 23. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is spread from person to person and through contaminated food and beverages. Infected people can be contagious before symptoms and sometimes show no symptoms at all. It is expected that more cases will be reported as the incubation period with Hepatitis A can … [Read more...]
Virginia Hepatitis A Outbreak Now at 44 Sick
The Virginia Department of Health is updating the hepatitis A outbreak case count in that state every day at noon. As of 12:00 pm on August 30, 2016, 44 Virginia residents who tested positive for hepatitis A reported consuming a smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe before they got sick. About 50% of those sickened have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so severe. The patient age range is from 15 to 68. Illness onset dates range from early May through August. On August 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified Department officials that the hepatitis A cluster in that state was caused by a strain of hepatitis A that was associated with past outbreaks due to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie Cafe stopped using the product at … [Read more...]
40 Now Sick in Virginia Tropical Smoothie Hepatitis A Outbreak
At least forty people are now sick in the hepatitis A outbreak associated with strawberry smoothies sold at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurants in Virginia. That number is current as of 12:00 pm on August 29, 2016. The health department press release states that about 55% of the residents, for whom information is available, have been hospitalized for their illness. The 40 ill residents range in age from 15 to 68. Onsets of illness for the 40 patients range from early May through mid-August. That means that anyone who had a strawberry smoothie from a Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurant in Virginia in April, May, June, July, or August may have been exposed to the virus. Since the longest incubation period for this illness is 50 days, anyone who ate there July 10, 2016 or later … [Read more...]
Tropical Smoothie Employee Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
An employee at the Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurant at 8069 Stonewall Shops Square in Gainesville, Virginia has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. That restaurant chain has been linked to a hepatitis A outbreak in Virginia that has sickened at least 35 people. But this news means that people who ate at that specific restaurant on certain dates should call their doctors. Anyone who visited that restaurant between July 28, 2016 and August 18, 2016 may have been exposed to hepatitis A by the employee as well as the imported strawberries that are linked to the outbreak. People who ate or drank anything at that restaurant in Gainesville on August 15, 16, 17, or 18 may still be eligible for a vaccination against the virus. Vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of … [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...]
Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO Apologizes for Hepatitis A Exposure
After Tropical Smoothie Cafe was linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 17 people in Virginia, CEO Mike Rotondo apologized to customers on a video posted on the company's website. Health officials say the source of the outbreak was frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. “I sincerely apologize for any issues that this may have caused for any of our customers,” Rotondo said. “We take this issue very seriously. Your health and your safety is our top priority. We want you to have confident that we source high quality products so that you’ll come back again and visit us very soon. Thank you.” The company removed the imported strawberries from all locations and has found an alternate supplier. Vaccinations can prevent symptoms, but only if given within two weeks … [Read more...]
