“CDC, FDA, and several states are now investigating an outbreak of foodborne Hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries in smoothies served in restaurants”, the CDC spokeswoman said. The other states reporting cases are Maryland (4), West Virginia (4), North Carolina (1), OR (1) and Wisconsin (1). Hepatitis A’s long incubation period ranges from 15 to 30 days, making it extremely hard to investigate, according to state and federal health officials.
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About half of the 44 infected Virginians have been hospitalized, according to that state’s department of health. In Virginia, the 55 people who were sickened between May and August range in age from 15 to 68. The outbreak has been potentially associated with smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Café restaurants in Virginia, according to the state’s Department of Health. Nearly all of them reported eating a smoothie before they became ill. The one ill person in OR had traveled to Virginia. Hepatitis A is spread from person to person. The virus is usually passed from person-to-person contact or through contaminated food.
Though the classic symptom is jaundice – a yellowing of the skin or the eyes – other signs include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and light-colored stools.
Virginia health officials didn’t alert the public to the HAV until August 19, even though Tropical Smoothie Cafes were notified of the Hepatitis A link to strawberries sourced from Egypt on August 6.
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Virginia health officials have confirmed at least 40 of the viral infections, which can damage the liver. Anyone who consumed a smoothie after the frozen strawberries were removed from restaurants is not thought to be at risk for Hepatitis A.
