In a follow-up to a report Tuesday on the hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii, health officials report an additional 38 cases bringing the outbreak total to 206.

Findings of the investigation suggest that the source of the outbreak is focused on Oahu. Nine (9) individuals are residents of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, or Maui, and one visitor has returned to the mainland. All patients have been adults and approximately one quarter of the cases (51) required hospitalization for their illness.

Image/Nick Roux, updated by Peter Fitzgerald
Image/Nick Roux, updated by Peter Fitzgerald

On Monday, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) identified raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai as a likely source of the ongoing outbreak.

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.

On Wednesday, health officials  confirmed an additional case of hepatitis A in an Oahu food service worker. The infected case is an employee at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka restaurant, located at 801 Kaheka Street, Honolulu. The employee worked on July 21-23 and 26-30, and Aug. 2-6 and 9-11, 2016.

“Even though we’ve identified and work to confirm the likely source of the overall outbreak, we may continue to see new cases with hepatitis A infection like this person because of how long ago people would have been exposed,“ said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “Our work to control further spread of disease is not yet over.”

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