State health officials say they’re looking into hepatitis A infections that have struck at least three adults, including one person on Oahu who was hospitalized.
All three consumed frozen berry products from Costco and became ill sometime between early and late May, officials said.
"All three are recovering or have recovered," said state Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo.
Okubo said two are on Oahu and one is on Kauai.
Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, which is distributed by Costco, has been implicated in the hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii and five other states.
The product has been voluntarily recalled and was pulled from the shelves in all Hawaii stores Wednesday and Thursday, the state said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has linked some 34 other hepatitis A illnesses in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend.
Of the 34, 11 were hospitalized and none died. Twenty-two reported purchasing the product from Costco markets in six states including Hawaii. Investigations are continuing to determine whether the product was sold at other outlets.
The onset dates of most of the illnesses range from April 29 through late May.
The product is believed to contain a tainted pomegranate seed mix, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration.
State epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease but that many adults have not been vaccinated and will be susceptible.
"Fortunately, most children and adolescents have been vaccinated as part of routine childhood vaccination recommendations," Park said.
Costco is notifying its customers who purchased this product since late February 2012, according to federal officials.
The public is advised to discard or return any remaining product.
Anyone who consumed it during the past month is encouraged to consult his medical provider regarding a vaccination.
Hepatitis A usually occurs when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate hand hygiene.Food contaminated with the hepatitis A virus, as is suspected in this outbreak, can cause outbreaks of disease among persons who eat or handle the food, federal officials said.
Hepatitis A is a virus that reproduces in the liver and can cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, diarrhea and yellow skin and eyes. Illness usually occurs from two weeks to as long as 50 days after consumption of contaminated food or water.
State health officials said most people with hepatitis A infection will recover without complications but might require supportive therapy and close monitoring by a physician.
