The total number of hepatitis A cases has reached 206, according to a Hawaii Department of Health update Wednesday.

The department confirmed a new case of an employee at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka restaurant on Kaheka Street in Honolulu. The employee worked there July 21-23 and 26-30, Aug. 2-6 and 9-11.

Dept of Health's Dr Sarah Park State Epidemiologist speaks at press conference announcing source of Hepatitis A outbreak as scallops served at Genki Sushi. 16 aug 2016
State epidemiologist Sarah Park speaks at press conference announcing source of Hepatitis A outbreak as scallops served at Genki Sushi. 16 aug 2016 Cory Lum/Civil Beat

“Even though we’ve identified and work to confirm the likely source of the overall outbreak, we may continue to see new cases with hepatitis A infection like this person because of how long ago people would have been exposed,“ state epidemiologist Sarah Park said in a release. “Our work to control further spread of disease is not yet over.”

The department says it’s sharing this information as a precaution in an attempt to prevent any new cases. The likelihood that patrons of this business will become infected is very low, the release says.

On Monday, the department ordered all Oahu and Kauai Genki Sushi restaurants to close after determining the likely source of the hepatitis A outbreak was imported frozen scallops served raw at the restaurants. There were 168 people infected by that point in the outbreak, which began in June.

Updated case counts and information are provided each Wednesday along with a complete list of food service establishments who have had employees diagnosed with hepatitis A infection, the release says.

Visit http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/hepatitis-a-outbreak-2016 to learn more.

It's our job to make sense of it all.

The decisions shaping Hawaiʻi are happening right now, which is why it’s so important that everyone has access to the facts behind them.

By giving to our spring campaign TODAY, your gift will help support our vital work, including today’s legislative reporting and upcoming elections coverage.

About the Author