10 Hepatitis A Cases in Virginia Linked to Strawberry Smoothies, Health Department Says

Ten people in Virginia have been infected with Hepatitis A after consuming strawberry smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the Virginia Department of Health said Monday.

Individuals who consumed a smoothie from a Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Virginia, on Aug. 5, 6, 7 or 8 may still benefit from vaccine or immune globulin to prevent hepatitis A, according to the health department. The smoothies were made with frozen strawberries from Egypt that were tainted, health officials said.

The Hepatitis A cases reported so far are spread out across the Commonwealth, with four cases reported in the Northern Virginia suburbs, said Matthew LiPani, central region public information officer, Office of Risk Communication and Education at the Virginia Department of Health.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has many locations in the Northern Virginia area, including in Ashburn, Reston, Oakton, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, Leesburg and Fredericksburg.

Here's the breakdown so far, where people have reported cases of Hepatitis A due to consuming strawberry smoothies from the cafe, according to the health department:

• Northern Health District: 4 cases
• Central Health District: 2 cases
• Eastern Health District: 2 cases
• Northwest Health District: 2 cases

The Northern Health District includes Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. Officials did not pinpoint the location of the cases, other than to report the health districts.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe conducted a voluntary product withdrawal of all strawberries sourced from Egypt and found an alternate supply, the health department said.

See your doctor right away if you think you have been in contact with the hepatitis A virus, the Health Department advises. A dose of the hepatitis A vaccine or a medicine called hepatitis A immune globulin may protect you from getting sick if taken shortly after coming into contact with the hepatitis A virus, according to the department.

Hepatitis A is a virus or infection that causes liver disease and inflammation of the liver. Viruses can cause organs to not work properly, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Read more here about Hepatitis A from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illustration is from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Photo: Shutterstock image