e more illnesses were reported Tuesday in the multistate hepatitis A outbreak linked to pomegranate seeds from Turkey, bringing the case count up from 140 to 143.These newly reported cases occurred in two of the eight states affected by the outbreak: Arizona (which reported one new case) and Colorado (which reported two new cases).
The total number of cases by state is now as follows: Arizona (21), California (69), Colorado (28), Hawaii (8), New Mexico (6), Nevada (6), Utah (3), and Wisconsin (2).
The pomegranate seeds are known to have been distributed in two products in the U.S. — one a frozen berry blend made by Townsend Farms and sold at Costco stores in the West and Harris Teeter stores in the East, and the other frozen organic pomegranate kernels sold by Scenic Fruit.
To date, the product sold at Costco is the only one that’s been linked to illnesses in this outbreak.
The two people in Wisconsin who are part of the outbreak were exposed to the frozen berry blend in California.
Patients range in age from 1-84 years old. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 children under age 18 were sickened. Among the 62 ill people who have been hospitalized, all are adults.
No deaths have been linked to the outbreak.
