Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked to Frozen Strawberry Smoothies

A Hepatitis A outbreak has been traced to frozen strawberries used at Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations across Virginia, where there are now 40 confirmed cases, up from 28 cases a week ago.

There are more than 500 of the smoothie franchises across the country, and Virginia is not the only state affected, reported The Associated Press.

All the potentially contaminated Egyptian-sourced berries were pulled from the 96 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Virginia no later than Aug. 8 or Aug. 9.

Officials say more cases could emerge, since some symptoms take as many as 50 days to emerge. The Hepatitis A virus affects the liver.

The Virginia Department of Health said in a news release on Monday that about 55 percent of the infected residents have been hospitalized.

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