87 people now infected with Hepatitis A from frozen berry mix

A new Hepatitis A outbreak is growing.

The Hepatitis A outbreak tied to a frozen berry mix has lead to the diagnosis of at least 87 people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to UPI. Those infected range from ages 2 to 84 and live in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. Reported illnesses began March 16th and have continued now to June 1. 36 of these infected people have been hospitalized by the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sold at Costco and Harris Teeter stores across in these regions and across the country, illnesses have only been tracked to those sold at Costco.

According to USA Today, director of food safety at Costco, Craig Wilson, made a statement conveying that 240,000 customers who bought the berries at one of the Costco stores has been contacted. The store is providing vaccinations for those who ate the berries within the last two weeks and is reimbursing those who have gotten outside vaccinations. The berry mix was recalled on June 3. In order for the shots to be effective, they must be administered within two weeks of eating berries to prevent Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a disease spread when food is handled by someone with improper hygiene human or when feces contaminates food. It is a disease of the liver that can cause fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.

Investigations by the Food and Drug Administration have revealed that because the strain is rarely seen in North or South America but more common North Africa and the Middle East and pomegranate seeds in the mix include those from Turkey, this may be the source of the outbreak.

Due to the rarity of the disease in this region, class action lawsuits have already been filed against Townshed Farms, asking for compensation for treatment and vaccines. More are expected to occur, especially as the word of illness spreads and more infected victims come forward.