Genki Sushi was ordered to close its 10 restaurants on Oahu and one on Kauai, said Peter Oshiro, Hawaii State Department of Health sanitation branch chief. Recently, the authority reported a hepatitis A outbreak that had resulted from the consumption of frozen scallops that were served raw at a local sushi restaurant. The Hawaii State Department of Health Sanitation said Tuesday that Genki Sushi is being ordered to close its 10 restaurants. The facility should be completely disinfected before reopening.
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A hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii has sickened at least 168 people, with at least 46 of them hospitalized, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Symptoms include fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow skin and eyes.
All Genki Sushi stores on the two islands were forced to shut down until they are cleared by the Department of Health.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Lauren Sucher said the agency is working to confirm the source.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, which is found in the fecal matter of infected individuals and is usually spread by eating contaminated food or drinking water.
For a list of those restaurants and possible exposure dates, visit the state health department’s outbreak update web page by clicking here.
Genki Sushi Restaurants on Oahu and Kauai will remain closed until the Department of Health can ensure they are safe.
The Star-Advertiser reports that in a statement issued Monday evening, The Hawaii Health Department said: “The Department of Health has determined the Hepatitis A outbreak on Oahu is likely due to imported frozen scallops served raw at Genki Sushi Restaurants on Oahu and Kauai”.
The department says the tainted product is labeled “Sea Port Bay Scallops”.
Park said the department is concerned the scallops may have been served or distributed to places other than Genki Sushi because a small number of patients say they didn’t eat at the chain. The box says the scallops are from the Philippines. It’s been hard for those infected to remember everything they ate and all the people with whom they had contact.
“Because none of the scallops of concern have been distributed to Maui and Hawaii Island, there appears to be no risk of contamination from this product and therefore no need for prophylactic vaccination”, said Jonathan Hilts of the Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division.
Attorneys for an Oahu resident, Brant Mauk, on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Genki Sushi and Koha Oriental Foods alleging negligence and seeking damages.
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Earlier Tuesday, during a news conference to alert the public of the outbreak connection to Genki Sushi restaurants, State Epidemiologist Sarah Park warned that the 50-day incubation period of Hepatitis A means more people are expected to become ill.
