The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of hepatitis A in Alberta and Saskatchewan. There are also cases in the United States.

Public Health says based on the investigation to date, imported fresh organic strawberries is the likely source of the outbreak. They were purchased between March 5th and 9th at Co-op stores in both provinces and are no longer available for purchase. However, if you froze them to eat later, throw them out if they were purchased between March 5th and 9th at a Co-op store, branded as FreshKampo or HEB. If you’re not sure where you bought them, Public Health advises to throw them out.

As of Monday there are 10 lab confirmed cases of hepatitis A illness in Canada with four in Alberta and six in Saskatchewan. The individuals became ill between early and mid April. Four individuals were hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

Information from Health Canada:

If you believe you have been exposed or have symptoms consistent with hepatitis A, see your doctor. Vaccination can prevent an infection if given within 14 days of exposure. Not everyone who is infected will have symptoms. Symptoms are more likely to occur in adults than in children.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include:

fever
dark urine
loss of appetite
fatigue (tiredness)
nausea and vomiting
stomach cramps or abdominal pain
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Symptoms typically appear 14 to 28 days after you have been exposed to hepatitis A, but may occur up to 50 days later. Most people who become ill from a hepatitis A infection will recover fully, but the risk of serious complications increases with older age and in those with underlying liver disease. It is possible for some people to be infected with hepatitis A and to not get ill or show any symptoms, but to still be able to spread the virus to others.