Hepatitis A Outbreak in U.S. and Canada Linked to Strawberries & More News Here

Public well being officers stated they had been investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in the United States and Canada that’s probably linked to natural strawberries.

American well being officers stated the outbreak most definitely got here from contemporary natural strawberries branded as FreshKampo and H-E-B that had been purchased between March 5 and April 25.

The strawberries had been bought at shops together with Aldi, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Weis Markets, the Food and Drug Administration stated.

The strawberries are actually previous their shelf life, and individuals who purchased them between March 5 and April 25 ought to throw them out, even when they froze them to eat later, well being officers stated.

In the United States, the F.D.A. stated it had recognized 17 instances of hepatitis A linked to the strawberries — 15 in California and one every in Minnesota and North Dakota. Twelve individuals have been hospitalized, the company stated.

In Canada, well being officers stated they’d confirmed 10 instances — 4 in Alberta and six in Saskatchewan. Four individuals have been hospitalized in that nation.

No deaths linked to the strawberries have been reported in the United States or Canada, in accordance to officers in each international locations.

Hepatitis A is a contagious virus which will trigger liver illness. It could be transmitted when meals is consumed after it was dealt with by somebody who didn’t observe correct hand-washing hygiene, the F.D.A. stated.

Symptoms often develop 15 to 20 days after consuming the contaminated meals and can embody fatigue, nausea, vomiting, belly ache, jaundice, darkish urine and pale stool, the F.D.A. stated.

People who imagine they might be contaminated or might have eaten the contaminated strawberries in the final two weeks ought to speak to their well being care supplier, the F.D.A. stated.

In a press release, H-E-B, which relies in Texas, stated that it had not obtained or bought natural strawberries from the provider beneath investigation since April 16.

“All strawberries sold at H-E-B are safe,” the corporate stated. “No illnesses from strawberries related to the F.D.A. investigation have been reported at H-E-B or in Texas.”

FreshKampo stated it was not delivery contemporary natural strawberries linked to the outbreak. Those that had been bought between March 5 and April 25 got here in a plastic clamshell package deal with a label that learn, “Distributed by Meridian Fruits,” the corporate stated in a press release.

“FreshKampo wants consumers to know that it will continue to work with health officials and supply chain partners to determine where a problem may have occurred along the supply chain and take necessary measures to prevent it from happening again,” the assertion stated.