Epidemic Hazard Location: USA MultiStates States of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada Situation A nationwide outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen berries has sickened 118 people in eight states, sending 47 to the hospital, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. Although the berries were recalled June 3, people are still getting sick. A report in The Oregonian newspaper found that a restaurant in Ashland, Ore., was still serving smoothies made with the recalled berries last Wednesday. The frozen berry mix, called "Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend" berry and pomegranate mix, was sold by Costco markets. So far everyone who got sick and reported eating the berries purchased the product from Costco, according to CDC. The product was also sold at Harris Teeter stores on the East Coast but no cases have been identified with the product bought there, CDC said. The Harris Teeter product was labeled "Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend, 10 oz. bag." The producer of the berry mix, Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., voluntarily began a recall on June 3. The Food and Drug Administration has begun an inspection of the company's processing facilities. The illnesses have been reported in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. The strain of hepatitis A found in the berry mix is rare in the United States but known to circulate in North Africa and the Middle East. According to the label, the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend mix contained fruit from the United States, Argentina, Chile and Turkey. The first victims fell ill on April 29. The most recent was June 8, CDC said. The virus is most often transmitted when an infected food handler prepares food with dirty hands. Food contaminated with hepatitis A can transmit the disease to people who eat or handle it. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by a virus. Some people have no symptoms, but many have fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal and joint pain. In severe cases it can cause liver failure and require a transplant. Costco has called all its customers who bought the berry mix between February and May, said Craig Wilson, the company's food safety director. The Issaquah, Wash., company is reimbursing the cost of hepatitis A vaccination for everyone who bought the frozen berry mix at Costco. All Costco pharmacies are making the vaccine available to affected customers, Wilson said.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:02:36 +0000
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