The hepatitis A drive from Chinese fruits shakes Australia

More than half a million Australians face the risk of hepatitis A infection after consuming packaged fruit products from China.

About 450,000 Australians may have eaten packaged fruits suspected of containing the hepatitis A virus (Artwork).

About 450,000 Australians may have eaten packaged fruits suspected of containing the hepatitis A virus. Currently 18 people have been diagnosed with the disease. With an incubation period of up to 7 weeks, experts worry that many cases will develop illness in the future. Earlier, more than 70,000 Chinese fruit packages were sold by Patties Foods every week in Australia, believed to be the source of this virus for those who ate.

Health agencies are still actively investigating to bring the incident to light. The consumer was urged by the authorities not to buy or eat 1kg Nanna's Raspberries, 1kg of 1kg Nanna's Frozen Mixed Berries and 500g Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries.

Hepatitis A is spread through contact with materials that have been contaminated by the person's stool. The disease is not life threatening but can be severe in the elderly, chronic liver disease patients and people with a weak immune system.

The Australian Department of Agriculture is contacting companies that have imported Chinese fruits to learn about the origin and food safety management system. The fruits are believed to carry pathogens grown in Chile and China before being packaged at a Chinese factory.