Around 134 people have been infected with hepatitis A in an outbreak linked to frozen strawberries, according to the CDC. This number is up from the 70 sickened as part of the same outbreak in September.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last a few weeks or a few months, depending on its severity.
The hepatitis A infections have been reported in nine states, up from seven in infections reported in September:
• Virginia — 107 cases
• Maryland — 12 cases
• West Virginia — seven cases
• New York — three cases
• North Carolina — one case
• Oregon — one case
• Wisconsin — one case
• Arkansas — one case
• California — one case
Fifty-three people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, thus far. Around 129 of those infected reported eating a smoothie containing strawberries from Tropical Smoothie Café locations.
The FDA found that the strawberries were from the International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing, imported from Egypt. Tropical Smoothie Café has since switched to a different supplier. Additionally, on Oct. 30, 2016, the International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing recalled all of its frozen strawberries that were imported into the United States since Jan. 1, 2016.
The CDC and FDA are continuing their investigation into this multistate outbreak.