The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) reported one additional hepatitis A case this week, bringing the outbreak total to 292.

Image/National Atlas of the United States
Image/National Atlas of the United States

The hepatitis A outbreak, primarily focused on the island of Oahu, was earlier linked to raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai.

The product of concern is Sea Port Bay Scallops (Wild Harvest, Raw Frozen) that originated in the Philippines (states “Product of the Philippines” on the box), distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods. As a result, HDOH ordered this product embargoed (not to be sold, purchased, or consumed) throughout the state, and the temporary closure of all Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai.

The outbreak investigation is ongoing.   It continues to be challenging because of the long incubation period of the disease (15 to 50 days) and the difficulty patients have in accurately recalling the foods consumed and locations visited during the period when infection could have taken place.

HDOH encourages Hawaii residents to consider getting vaccinated for hepatitis A, and advises that they talk to their healthcare provider about hepatitis A if they are interested.

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