The number of
confirmed illnesses part of the multistate Hepatitis A outbreak linked to
Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxident Berry Blend continues to creep up.
On
Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that there
are now 122 confirmed cases, up two cases from the previous day and three more
than the agency had confirmed on Monday. This week the outbreak also went from
affecting 7 states to affecting 8, Wisconsin being the latest addition.
Arizona
has 17 cases, California has 62, Colorado 25, Hawaii 5, New Mexico 5, Nevada 5,
Utah 2 and Wisconsin 1, but the exposure in Wisconsin resulted from exposure to
the product in California, according to CDC.
Nearly 60
percent of the victims are women. Illnesses onset dates range from the end of
March to the middle of June and 45 percent of the reported illnesses have
resulted in hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.
“Investigation
by state and local health departments, FDA, and CDC is ongoing,” according to
CDC. “FDA is inspecting the processing facilities of Townsend Farms of
Fairview, Oregon.”
The
outbreak strain of hepatitis A virus (HAV), belonging to genotype 1B, was found
in clinical specimens of 36 people in six states. According to CDC, “this
strain is rarely seen in the Americas but circulates in North Africa and the
Middle East.”
Hepatitis
A is a human disease and usually occurs when an infected food handler prepares
food without appropriate hand hygiene. However, food contaminated with
HAV, as is suspected in this outbreak, can cause outbreaks of disease among
persons who eat or handle food. Anyone concerned about exposure or foodborne
illness should contact their health provider or their local health department.
Aporte: Carolina Figueroa
Fuente: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/06/hepatitis-a-outbreak-numbers-rise-again-127-people-sick-in-8-states/#.UdG0JmLVBrs
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