As thousands of children lined up for gamma globulin shots to ward off hepatitis A infection, federal officials said the infection came from contaminated strawberries and they took quick steps to halt any further consumption of them. An outbreak of hepatitis A among more than 160 schoolchildren and teachers was traced to a batch of frozen strawberries served in Michigan school cafeterias, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week. Health officials assured consumers that fresh strawberries and strawberry products on grocery shelves are safe. Hepatitis A is a usually mild and rarely fatal liver condition. Gamma globulin shots can help people within two weeks of when they ate contaminated berries.
Officials are notifying schools and families if they've been exposed to tainted berries.
Symptoms, including jaundice, nausea, fatigue, fever, and dark urine, usually don't show up for about a month. Inc. All rights reserved.