3666114

County Warns of Contaminated Strawberries

3666114

The Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) is working closely with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and other local health departments across the State of Michigan to investigate recent commercial food service deliveries of frozen strawberries that may have been contaminated with Hepatitis A.

The Berrien County Health Department has been conducting interviews with the identified food establishments and facilities that may have had this contaminated product delivered to them to ensure that all products have been removed. At this time, BCHD has not received any reports of Hepatitis A due to consumption of contaminated strawberries in Berrien County and currently does not believe there to be a present threat to public health.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that is a result of infection with the Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can range in severity from mild illness, lasting a few weeks, to severe illness, lasting several months. Illness generally occurs 15 to 50 days following exposure and includes fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine, and pale stool. Anyone with symptoms of Hepatitis A should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is through vaccination. The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended as part of routine childhood vaccinations and for adults at high risk. If you are unsure if you have been vaccinated against hepatitis A, contact your health professional or the Berrien County Health Department to check your immunization records.

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Residents can find more information regarding this multi-state Hepatitis A investigation on the Berrien County Health Department website at www.bchdmi.org and through the following resources:

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: www.michigan.gov/mdard
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: www.michigan.gov/mdhhs
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2016/hav-strawberries.htm

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