Santa Cruz County Case of Hepatitis A Linked to Costco Berries

There has been a confirmed case of Hepatitis A related to organic berries from Costco, according to the Santa Cruz County Public Health Services Agency.

The agency asks that you don't eat the recalled Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend of frozen berries.

Initial report from CDC

Here is their report:

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT INCIDENT 

The Public Health Department is reporting a confirmed case of Hepatitis A (HAV) in a resident of Santa Cruz County that has been linked to the consumption of "Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend" of frozen berries sold at a local Costco store.  The case was not hospitalized and is recovering at home. 


ADVICE TO CONSUMERS *       Do not eat recalled "Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend" of frozen berries and discard remaining product from your freezers.  This product was sold at Costco in 3 lb. Bags with the UPC 07841440448. *     

Even if some of the product has been eaten without anyone in your home becoming ill, the rest of the product should be discarded. *    

If you consumed this product in the last two weeks, contact your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated. *    

If you don't have a health care provider or health insurance or are under-insured, you can go to the walk-in Immunization Clinic (for vaccine only, not for medical care) at 1080 Emeline, Santa Cruz or 9 Crestview Dr. in Watsonville to receive a low cost or free HAV vaccination. 

 Walk-in hours are 1:30pm to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday in Santa Cruz and 1:00pm to 4:00pm in Watsonville. *       If you have had HAV in the past or if you have been vaccinated against HAV, you are unlikely to become ill with the disease. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HAV 

If you consumed this product longer than two weeks ago, watch for these symptoms:
*       Yellow eyes or skin 
*    Abdominal pain 
*       Pale stools 
*       Dark urine
*       Fatigue Illness can occur within 15-50 days after eating contaminated food, with an average range of 28-30 days. 



*       Visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/ <http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/>