107 Cases of Hepatitis A in Virginia Attributed to Tropical Smoothie Outbreak: CDC

There have now been 107 cases of foodborne hepatitis A reported in Virginia linked to contaminated frozen strawberries sold at Tropical Smoothie Cafes, the Centers for Disease Control reported late last week. The total cases are at 134, with some cases reported in other states; of the total cases, 52 people have been hospitalized, the CDC reported.

Most of the Virginia cases were reported in Northern Virginia, where Tropical Smoothie Cafe has locations in Ashburn, Reston, Oakton, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, Leesburg and Fredericksburg.

The outbreak was first reported to the general public Aug. 19 in Virginia by the commonwealth's health department, two weeks after the department first told the restaurant there was a link between the strawberries and the illness. The warning, issued just before the weekend, likely left some scrambling to arrange to get the vaccine; the health department advised that if victims were quick enough, a vaccine administered within two weeks after eating the strawberries might prevent the virus.

In several states, the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are continuing to investigate the multi-state outbreak. The CDC says there is not an ongoing risk of acquiring hepatitis A virus infection at Tropical Smoothie Cafés, as the contaminated food product was removed as of Aug. 8.

Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection can take up to 50 days to appear, the CDC advised.

Last week, the CDC released the following information on the outbreak:

• 134 people with hepatitis A have been reported from nine states: Arkansas (1), California (1), Maryland (12), New York (3), North Carolina (1), Oregon (1), Virginia (107), West Virginia (7) and Wisconsin (1).
• 52 ill people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
• Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicate frozen strawberries imported from Egypt are the likely source of this outbreak.
  • In interviews, nearly all ill people interviewed reported drinking smoothies containing strawberries at Tropical Smoothie Café locations prior to Aug. 8 in a limited geographical area, including Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
• On Aug. 8, Tropical Smoothie Café reported that it removed the Egyptian frozen strawberries from its restaurants in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia and switched to another supplier. Out of an abundance of caution, Tropical Smoothie Café has since switched to another supplier for all restaurants nationwide.
• If you think you’ve gotten sick from drinking a smoothie containing frozen strawberries from a Tropical Smoothie Café prior to Aug. 8, contact your doctor, the CDC advised.
• Food handlers should contact their doctors and stay home if they are sick with hepatitis A.
• Hepatitis A is a serious illness that affects the liver. Symptoms include yellow eyes or skin, abdominal pain or pale stools.

Food Safety News reports that some victims are suing Tropical Smoothie Café as well as another 10 companies and individuals that were involved with the importing and distribution of the suspect strawberries. Read more about that in the Food Safety News story here.

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