Outbreaks of hepatitis A are associated with strawberries: how to stay safe

CDC report Seventeen people became ill in three states and had 12 hospitalizations for hepatitis A, but there were no deaths associated with the illness.

If the CDC has not been vaccinated with hep-A that has eaten, purchased fresh, and later frozen hep-A within the last 14 days, contact your local health department or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss it. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) Hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin.

Receiving PEP within 14 days of exposure may help prevent the disease, officials say.

The FDA warns everyone who purchases Fresh Kampo and freezes HEB’s fresh organic strawberries between March 5th and April 25th and cannot be consumed later.

These products were sold in retail stores, including but not limited to:

• HEB
• Kroger
• Safe way
• Bean sprout farmers market
• Trader Joe’s
• Walmart
• Weiss Market
• WinCo Foods

The agency has confirmed that the potentially affected product is currently out of storage life.

“If you don’t know the brand you bought when you bought the strawberries or where you bought them before freezing, you need to dispose of the strawberries,” says the FDA. warning..

“Hepatitis A is a viral infection that causes acute liver inflammation.” Thomas YadegerMD, the medical director of the intensive care unit at the Providence Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told Healthline.

He explained that the infection usually spreads through contaminated food and it is a “self-limiting illness.”

“For most patients, it means that the body can get rid of the infection on its own, without causing persistent liver damage or hepatitis carrier conditions like hepatitis B or C,” says Yadegar. I did.

Outbreaks of food-borne hepatitis A have occurred in the past.

“You may remember past outbreaks related to salad greens, raspberries and leeks,” he said. SuwanMD, MPH, FACP, Medical Director of the Viral Hepatitis Program at Cooperman Barnavas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ.

She said that in those cases there was some contamination during the chain of produce handling, including growth, picking and preparation.

“Generally, this is due to not washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers,” Wang said. “This is why it is so important for food handlers to wash their hands.”

according to CDCSymptoms of hep-A usually appear 2 to 7 weeks after exposure and may include the following symptoms:

• Jaundice, yellowing of skin and eyes
• Stomach upset or pain
• Dark urine or light colored stool

The CDC noted that not all people with hep-A have symptoms, but adults are more likely to experience symptoms than children.

“The typical course of illness is weeks, first with fever, malaise, abdominal pain, followed by jaundice,” says Yadegar. “A healthy liver can fully recover from hepatitis A within 3-6 months.”

According to Yadegar, the most effective way to protect yourself from hepatitis A infections is to ensure complete vaccination status.

“In the United States, the first hepatitis A vaccine in the entire series is usually given in childhood between the ages of 1-2 and a second dose 6 months later,” he said. “Some patients may require additional doses in adulthood, depending on their individual risk.”

He said that avoiding close contact with hepatitis A-positive patients and doing a thorough hand wash after using the toilet and before preparing meals are best practices to avoid infection. I added.

On May 28, the FDA announced the outbreak of hepatitis A in multiple states. This may be related to a particular brand of organic strawberries that has affected 17 people and hospitalized 12 so far.

According to experts, the symptoms of the infection begin 2 to 7 weeks after infection.

They also state that vaccination with hep-A, hand washing, and avoidance of close contact with patients with hep-A are the best countermeasures against this potentially deadly virus.