The hepatitis A outbreak in Virginia that is linked to strawberries imported from Egypt and allegedly used in smoothies sold at Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in that state is raising questions about how the virus is transmitted. The hepatitis A virus is very hardy and contagious. But how does it get on fruit? In 2013, a large nationwide hepatitis A (HAV) outbreak sickened at least 165 people. Those illnesses were linked to Townsend Farms frozen berries that were sold at Costco stores. Traceback investigations found that pomegranates in that product, imported from Goknur, Turkey, were the source of the virus. The genotype of hepatitis A in that outbreak was very rare on the American continent, but common in the Middle East. The food and drinks that are most likely to be … [Read more...]
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A Outbreak at 17
The hepatitis A outbreak associated with Tropical Smoothie Cafe products in Virginia has now sickened at least 17 people, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The outbreak has been linked to strawberries imported from Egypt that were used in smoothies. Testing on the virus in ill persons has revealed it matches a hepatitis A strain that was found in Egyptian strawberries that caused outbreaks in the past. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a chain restaurant with locations in Virginia in the cities of Oakton, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, and others. There are five cases of the illness in the Eastern Region, four in the Northern Region, four in the Northwestern Region and four in the Central Region. The chain has found another source of … [Read more...]
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hepatitis A Outbreak in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health is investigating a hepatitis A outbreak associated with smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe restaurants in Virginia. Genetic testing shows that the illnesses were caused by a strain of the virus that is associated with previous outbreaks linked to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie Cafe immediately recalled all strawberries sourced from Egypt and found an alternative supply. So far, there are 10 people sick in this outbreak. Two cases are in eastern Virginia. Other restaurants and suppliers may have received the imported frozen strawberries. Public health officials, including the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention … [Read more...]
Costco E. coli O157:H7 Chicken Salad Outbreak: It’s the Veggies
The FDA has announced that it appears onions and celery in Costco chicken salad may be the source of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria that has sickened at least 19 people in 7 states. Those people live in California (1), Colorado (4), Missouri (1), Montana (6), Utah (5), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). According to news outlets, Taylor Farms in Salinas, California is the supplier of the vegetables for Costco Wholesale. The vegetables from that supplier are used in the chicken salads sold in all of the company's U.S. stores. Of those 19 ill persons, 16 have been interviewed. Fourteen of those people purchased or ate rotisserie chicken salad from Costco stores the week before they got sick. Five of the patients have been hospitalized, and two are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome … [Read more...]
