MONTEREY BAY AREA + – The owners of 5 Monterey Bay Area restaurants are working with local health officials after imported frozen strawberries were linked with an outbreak of Hepatitis A The strawberries were grown in Egypt, and have been recalled. 134 people with Hepatitis A have been linked to the outbreak (and reported from 9 states), including 1 from California.
The recalled products were distributed for sale to, and use, in food service establishments nationwide by the International Company For Agricultural Production & Processing (ICAPP) and imported from Egypt. symptoms of hepatitis a can include vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin and eyes, fever, fatigue, and nausea. Symptoms develop two to six weeks after consuming contaminated food or drink, and can last from one week to several months. Most people recover completely, but sometimes hepatitis a can lead to hospitalization and severe illness. Hepatitis a can be passed from person-to-person when hands are not thoroughly washed after using the restroom. If people are experiencing those symptoms, and have not been immunized against hepatitis a (or had Hepatitis A) in the past, they are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
