“We also embargoed the frozen scallop product so that it wouldn’t be further distributed throughout the state”. It’s been hard for those infected to remember everything they had eaten and all the people they had contact with during that time, Health Department officials said.
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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.
The product of concern is Sea Port Bay Scallops (Wild Harvest, Raw Frozen) that originated in the Philippines (states “Product of the Philippines” on the box), distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods.
The Hawaii state Department of Health has identified 38 new cases of hepatitis A in the islands, bringing the total sickened by the outbreak to over 200. “We are continuing efforts to end this outbreak by working to assure no other product is left in the state and to monitor for those who unfortunately may have been infected and do not yet have symptoms”. All 10 Genki restaurants were ordered closed by the health department. Genki Sushi served them raw.
Park said the Health Department has notified other USA health agencies so doctors around the country can consider travel history to Hawaii if their patients report hepatitis A symptoms.
The department on Monday ordered Genki Sushi, a popular restaurant chain that serves sushi on a conveyor belt, to close 10 restaurants on Oahu and one on Kauai. “We will continue to work with Genki Sushi Restaurants to ensure their safe operation after the investigation is completed”.
Virginia Pressler said in a statement, “after determining the strong probable link between the majority of cases, the department immediately notified Genki Sushi Restaurants, ordered the embargo of the frozen scallop product, and the closure of all Oahu and Kauai facilities”.
Customers select their sushi items by taking them off a conveyor belt that moves around tables and counters. The chain’s restaurants on Maui and the Big Island are being allowed to stay open because there’s been no verification that they received shipments of the scallops.
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Vaccination provides the best protection from hepatitis A, so any persons who may have consumed this product may want to contact their healthcare providers about receiving a vaccine or immune globulin. She said Health Department officials didn’t get a response like that for any other restaurant, food chain or grocery store. 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.
