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Hepatitis A outbreak sickens 70; linked to imported frozen strawberries
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An ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A virus that sickened at least 70 people in seven states appears to be associated with frozen strawberries imported from Egypt, according to the CDC and other public health agencies.
CDC has received reports of 32 outbreak-related hospitalizations, primarily affecting residents of Virginia and surrounding. No deaths have been reported.
Investigation of the outbreak began in early August, when the Virginia Department of Health identified a cluster of illnesses potentially linked to fruit smoothies served at Tropical Smoothie Café restaurants. Since then, 97% of all ill people reported drinking a smoothie, and all 54 of those interviewed further reported drinking a smoothie containing strawberries — including one Oregonian patient who had traveled to Virginia and returned home.
“Federal, state and local officials are performing traceback investigations from the Tropical Smoothie Café locations where ill people reported drinking smoothies with frozen strawberries,” the CDC wrote in its announcement. “The investigations currently indicate that the strawberries served in those locations were imported from Egypt. Investigators are working to determine which specific lots may have been contaminated with hepatitis A virus and to find out if the frozen strawberries were distributed to other U.S. customers.”
Tropical Smoothie Café reported on Aug. 8 that the Egyptian strawberries had been removed from restaurants in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, and on Aug. 19 began using another strawberry supplier for all cafes nationwide.
The FDA says it is working to identify other compromises to the relevant supply chain and has communicated with the Egyptian International Health Regulations National Focal Point during the investigation. In the meantime, the agency said it has increased surveillance of imported strawberries. CDC’s testing of the frozen strawberries used at affected restaurants is ongoing.
The national and state health agencies are encouraging consumers to contact a doctor if they drank a smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Café in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina before Aug. 8, and believe themselves to be sick. In addition, food handlers and restaurant employees should contact a doctor and stay home from work if they are ill.