The health authorities of the United States and Canada are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in both countries that could have originated in the sale of fresh organic strawberries of the FreshKampo and HEB brands.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked not to consume the fruit purchased between March
5 and April 25
.
The potentially infected products have already expired but those who bought them and then frozen
them should not eat them.
The FDA said they were sold at Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Weis Markets, and WinCo Food stores.
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If you're not sure what brand of strawberries you bought, or when or where you bought them before you freeze them,
you should throw them out,
the FDA warned.
Of the 17 reported cases of infection, at least 15 were in California and at least 12 people were hospitalized, the FDA added.
People who reported infections in California, Minnesota and Canada said they bought fresh organic FreshKampo or HEB brand strawberries before they got sick.
The agency added that there may be more products under investigation.
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Despite being highly contagious, it is preventable by vaccination.
Most people with hepatitis A do not have a long-lasting illness.
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It spreads when someone gets the virus — even in microscopic amounts — through
close personal contact
with an infected person or by eating contaminated food or drink.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can last up to two months and include
fatigue, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice
(yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes).
If you ate strawberries from these brands in the last two weeks, purchased on those dates, you should see your doctor immediately to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary.
This is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks.
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It is unclear how the strawberries became infected.
Seafood, raw vegetables and fruit are some of the foods that can be a source of virus transmission, said the FDA, which recommends proper hand washing to reduce the risk of disease.
Products can become contaminated if handled by an infected person who has not washed their hands well.
Washing them with dirty water can also infect them.
