Three more cases have been reported on Tuesday in the multi-state Hepatitis A outbreak linked to pomegranate seeds.
About 143 court cases are under investigation after people who consumed the frozen berry and pomegranate were hospitalized as part of an hepatitis outbreak. The new cases reported come from two of the eight states affected by the outbreak Arizona, with one new case, and Colorado, which reported two new cases.
According to foodsafetynews.com, pomegranate seeds are distrusted in two products in the United States, frozen berry blend made by Townsend Farms and sold at Costco stores. The second product is frozen organic pomegranate kernels sold by Scenic Fruit.
According to the product label, the frozen berry mix includes pomegranates seeds and other fruit from the U.S., Argentina, Chile and Turkey.
The investigation began in May when nine out of 30 people were hospitalized for symptoms related to the outbreak, according to the NBCnews. The total number of cases by state is now Arizona (21), California (28), Hawaii (8), New Mexico (6), Nevada (6), Utah (3) and Wisconsin (2). No deaths have been linked to the outbreak
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, four children under the age of 18 were sickened and about 65 adults have been hospitalized.
Hepatitis A occurs when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate body hygiene according to the CDCP.
Hepatitis A is a vital liver disease that can cause a mild to serve illness lasting a new weeks to several months. It is usually spread when a patient ingest fecal material. Symptoms can include fatigue nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, low fever and yellowing of the eyes and skin. Not every one who contacts the disease shows the signs.
Vaccination is the best prevention for the disease.
