A South Australian woman has died after contracting hepatitis A from recalled frozen pomegranate.
SA Health chief medical officer and chief public health officer Professor Paddy Phillips revealed the 64-year-old woman died last Wednesday after "some time" in hospital.
"This is a rare and tragic case and I offer my sincere condolences to the woman's family," Professor Phillips said.
The majority of people infected with hepatitis A recover fully and the woman's death is the only death linked to this recalled product nationally to date.
"The incubation period for hepatitis A is generally 15-50 days, so we don't anticipate further cases because the product was recalled two months ago.
"While we expect most people would have disposed of the recalled product, we urge everyone to double-check freezers and remove any affected products.
Her death had been referred to the Coroner.
The Creative Gourmet 180g frozen pomegranate arils, which are sold at Coles supermarkets, were first recalled in April after a hepatitis A outbreak in New South Wales.
Then in May, SA Health again reminded people to throw away the product, made by Entyce Food Ingredients, after 11 linked hepatitis cases.
Professor Phillips said some 2000 packets of the fruit — grown in Egypt — were sold.
Of those 226 packets were returned, but he said they believed many more were thrown away as instructed by health authorities.
"Fresh pomegranate and frozen Australian-grown pomegranate products are not affected."
More here -
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-05/death-linked-to-pomegranate-recall/9836910
