Four more people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, a week after a nationwide recall was issued for contaminated frozen berries.
The health department on Saturday reported two extra cases in both New South Wales and Queensland, adding to 14 other confirmed cases across Australia.
People are being urged not to consume Nanna’s Raspberries 1kg packs, Nanna’s Frozen Mixed Berries 1kg packs and 300g and 500g packs of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries.
Only the Nanna’s Mixed Berries product has been linked with the outbreak, and the other products were recalled as a precaution.
“The source of the hepatitis A virus is still unconfirmed,” the heath department said in a statement on Saturday. “However, the berries are the only common exposure for cases.”
The Department of Agriculture is contacting companies that have imported Chinese berries to find out about the source of the berries and supply chain food safety management systems.
Early last week, the Red Cross Blood Service banned those who had eaten the berries from donating blood for two months, but lifted the ban on Saturday when they found the blood supply was not at risk.
The Red Cross said a comprehensive risk assessment had been completed and concluded that donors who ate the berries did not pose a significant risk.
“The risk assessment uses mathematical principles and modelling of factors which influence the chance of hepatitis A entering the blood supply,” the Red Cross said in a statement. “Donors who have eaten berries may donate, provided they remain well.”