In collaboration with state and local partners, the FDA and CDC investigated an outbreak of hepatitis A infections linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico. This outbreak caused 10 illnesses, 4 hospitalizations, and no deaths. FDA’s traceback investigation identified a common supplier of organic strawberries. Strawberries used by this supplier were imported from farms in Baja California, Mexico, in 2022. The strain of hepatitis A virus causing illnesses this year is genetically identical to the strain that caused the outbreak of Hepatitis A in 2022. Due to the matching strains of hepatitis A, investigators considered traceback and epidemiological data from the 2022 and 2023 outbreaks. When both data sets were considered together, investigators found that a single farm was associated with the distribution of strawberries consumed by ill people in both outbreaks. As of September 15, 2023, no additional illnesses have been reported, and CDC has announced that this outbreak has ended. There were four states (CA (2), HI (1), OR (1), and WA (6)) with cases. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-hepatitis-virus-infections-frozen-strawberries-february-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
