Hep. A In Australia

Hepatitis A – Semi-dried Tomatoes Australia Update (Victoria)

As reported on the 13th of October last month, The Department of Health and Human Services had received 12 notifications for Hepatitis A in one week in Victoria from persons who reported to have eaten semi-dried tomatoes.

There are now renewed warnings following a further 23 cases of Hepatitis A reported this week, linked to semi-dried tomatoes. So far in 2009 there have been 200 cases reported in Victoria compared to 74 during the same period last year.

As the incubation period of Hepatitis A can be as long as 2 months, it is difficult to find out where that these persons have eaten the product. Victoria's
chief health officer Dr John Carnie said that they are working closely “with the manufacturers and suppliers of semi-dried tomatoes to try and identify the
source.”

Full article here: