OLYMPIA - June 3, 2013 - An outbreak linked to “Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend” frozen berries has caused 30 cases of hepatitis A in five states. There have been no reported illnesses in Washington linked to these berries but they were sold in Costco stores throughout the state. Spokane Regional Health District joins the state Department of Health in advising residents against eating these berries and discarding any remaining product from your freezers. Even if some of the product has been eaten without anyone in your home becoming ill, the rest of the product should be discarded.
 
Contact your health care provider right away if you have eaten these berries and develop yellow eyes or skin, abdominal pain, diarrhea, pale stools, or dark urine. Symptoms can start up to seven weeks from the time of exposure.
 
If you consumed this product in the last two weeks and have never been vaccinated for hepatitis A or had the disease, contact your health care provider to find out if you should be vaccinated or receive other treatment. If you have already received the hepatitis A vaccination in the past or had hepatitis A, you are unlikely to become ill with the disease.
 
If it’s too late for a hepatitis A shot, be sure to wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet and don’t prepare food for others if you have diarrhea. Follow this advice even if you get the vaccine in time. The latest information about the national hepatitis A outbreak is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
 
To read Spokane Regional Health District's fact sheet on Hepatitis A, click here. More information can also be found at www.srhd.org. SRHD’s Web site offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.