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Hepatitis A not linked to blueberries

April 16, 2015

There is no link between a rise in Hepatitis A cases and eating blueberries, but the Centre for Food Safety will carry out spot checks on berry products as a precaution, Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man said today.

 

Dr Ko told reporters this morning that the Centre for Health Protection has received 64 cases of viral Hepatitis A infection so far this year - a rise compared with an average of about 40 cases in the past few years. 

 

The health chief also addressed rumours circulating online that last month's Hepatitis A outbreak in Australia was linked to a batch of pre-packaged berries processed on the Mainland, intensifying public fears.

 

Dr Ko told stressed that only eight Hepatitis A sufferers this year had eaten blueberries during the incubation period, adding that an epidemiological investigation had failed to identify a link between eating blueberries and the rise in Hepatitis A infections. 

 

He advised people that the most important way to prevent catching the virus is to pay attention to high risk food items, especially shellfish, and food which has not been thoroughly cooked, as well as other raw food items which have been stored at room temperature for a prolonged period.



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