In the US, Consumers of This Product, Beware: Outbreak Spreads to 4 States

Health officials in the United States have examined the Hepatitis A outbreak that has been seen in four states and has caused at least 37 people to become ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the cases could be linked to frozen seafood products.

The majority of cases were in New York.

According to CDC data, the outbreak was identified in the states of Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 30 of the 37 people who fell ill were hospitalized. No deaths linked to the outbreak were reported.

New York stood out in the distribution of cases. Of the 37 reported cases, 27 were in New York, while Pennsylvania had four and Massachusetts and Minnesota each had three.

The ages of those who fell ill ranged from 6 to 40.

The majority of those who fell ill had consumed raw seafood.

Interviews between health officials and patients revealed a striking common point regarding the source of the outbreak.

Seventy‑six percent of those who fell ill said they had eaten raw or under‑cooked shellfish before symptoms began. Forty‑seven percent reported eating raw or under‑cooked black sea scallops, while seventy‑seven percent were found to have consumed ceviche—a dish of fish or shellfish marinated in citrus juice.

The CDC noted that these rates were markedly higher than the consumption rates of similar products in the general population.

Frozen Scallop Suspicion

The CDC reported that epidemiological data collected during the outbreak suggested that imported frozen scallop products could have been contaminated with hepatitis A virus.

Officials said that retrospective supply‑chain investigations were underway to determine the source of the products consumed by patients.

The outbreak alert also mentioned the black sea snail product known as "concha negra" under the brand "La Serranita". It was stated that these products were recalled by vendors in New Jersey and New York due to a Hepatitis A risk.

According to the FDA, the products had been distributed to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

The Actual Case Count May Be Higher

The CDC also warned that the 37 cases recorded in official statistics may not fully reflect the true scale of the outbreak.

It is considered that the real number of patients could be higher because some individuals did not seek medical care or cases had not yet been reported to authorities. The possibility that the outbreak may have spread to regions beyond the four states where it has been reported is also emphasized.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus that affects the liver. The virus can spread not only through close contact with infected individuals but also via contaminated food or water.

While the vast majority of patients fully recover, Hepatitis A does not usually progress into a chronic, lifelong liver disease, unlike Hepatitis B and C.

However, in rare cases the infection can lead to serious complications that cause the liver to rapidly lose function and pose a life‑threatening danger.

In ABD, health officials are continuing their investigations to definitively determine the source of the outbreak.