KAILUA-KONA — Genki Sushi restaurants in Oahu and Kauai were shut down after the Hawaii State Department of Health determined that scallops served at the restaurants were the “likely source” of a hepatitis A outbreak. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — Genki Sushi
KAILUA-KONA — Genki Sushi restaurants in Oahu and Kauai were shut down after the Hawaii State Department of Health determined that scallops served at the restaurants were the “likely source” of a hepatitis A outbreak.
All Genki Sushi stores on the two islands were forced to shut down until they are cleared by the Department of Health.
Restaurants on the Big Island aren’t affected by the order.
Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler in a release said Genki Sushi “has complied with all orders” in the case.
The closure affects the sushi chain’s 10 Oahu restaurants and one on Kauai, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The Department of Health has also ordered an embargo on frozen scallops distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods in Hawaii. An embargo restricts the “use, sale or distribution” of the product in question. The department said Koha Oriental Foods supplied the scallops to the Oahu and Kauai restaurants. Because Genki Sushi restaurants on those islands handled the scallops, the stores were ordered to close.
True World Foods recently began distributing scallops to Genki Sushi restaurants on Maui and the Big Island. There haven’t been any cases of hepatitis A related to those shipments.
“Because none of the scallops of concern have been distributed to Maui and Hawaii Island, there appears to be no risk of contamination from this product and therefore no need for prophylactic vaccination,” said Jonathan Hilts of the Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division.
As a precaution though, the department said they have embargoed scallops sent to Genki Sushi restaurants on the Big Island and Maui.
The scallops in question haven’t been connected to any other restaurants, Hilts said.
“The investigation is ongoing,” he said, “so if we find out that contaminated product has been provided to other establishments (the Department of Health) will inform the public.”
The department said anybody who ate food, specifically scallops, from Genki Sushi on Oahu or Kauai should consider contacting their health care provider about receiving a vaccine.
Those who ate there more than two weeks ago should keep an eye on their well-being for 50 days and call a doctor if they develop hepatitis A symptoms. Symptoms include fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow skin and eyes.
Hilts added that the department encourages all Hawaii residents to consider hepatitis A vaccinations and that they should speak with their doctor if interested.
The department has confirmed 168 cases of hepatitis A as of Aug. 10, the department’s most recent update. The onset of illness ranged between June 12 and Aug. 1, according to the department.
All of those cases were in adults and 46 required hospitalization.
The Department of Health only announced one case of hepatitis A on the Big Island.
Last month, an employee at Sushi Shiono Waikoloa was diagnosed with hepatitis A after reportedly contracting the illness in Oahu.
The department ordered all of the restaurant’s employees to undergo hepatitis A testing. All of them were subsequently cleared of the illness.
No other cases related to that infection have been reported.
