Recently, many reports have amassed indicating that consumers in Hawaii have become seriously ill as a result of coming into contact with Hepatitis A. One resident in Oahu dined at a sushi establishment called Genki Sushi Restaurant. The man has filed a lawsuit against the restaurant and a supplier, Koha Foods, which provided imported scallops to the sushi restaurant. According to some reports, these scallops are believed to be the source of the Hepatitis A outbreak. Nearly 170 people have fallen ill with the disease, requiring over 45 hospitalizations starting in June 2016. Although the overwhelming majority of these cases are on Oahu, some of them have also occurred on Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii. Many tourists visiting Hawaii became ill during their stay and then traveled to other locations.
The State of Hawaii has put an embargo on the scallops and any distributors that use them. There are some 10 restaurants in the Genki Sushi chain that may be providing and serving the infected scallops. The scallops were diced and served raw with mayonnaise alongside a rice ball that was wrapped in seaweed. At these sushi restaurants, the fare was served on a conveyor belt, and customers then pull the items off the conveyor belt as they travel past them.
Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that targets the liver and can cause serious illnesses and complications. Typically, Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food or drinks or when the victim comes into close contact with someone who is a carrier of the virus. The symptoms giving signs that an individual has contracted the disease may not manifest for several weeks after the individual has been exposed. These symptoms often include nausea, fatigue, stomach pain, joint pain, jaundice, and dark urine.
If you have dined at one of these restaurants in recent months, you should contact your health care provider immediately to be tested for Hepatitis A. You should keep a close eye on your symptoms during the 50 days that follow your exposure date. If you have any symptoms or believe that you have been exposed, there are vaccines available that can prevent you from becoming ill with Hepatitis A as long as you receive the vaccine within two weeks of exposure.
At Moll Law Group, our experienced team of food contamination attorneys has helped victims throughout the country, including in Illinois, New York, California, and Florida, bring a claim against the restaurant or company responsible for their illness. These food providers have a duty to use safe handling practices when preparing, handling, serving, and storing food. There are a variety of claims you can potentially assert, including negligence and strict product liability We provide a free consultation to help you learn about the legal remedies available to you. Call us at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to set up your appointment now.
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