According to press reports, Western Australia has reported its first case of hepatitis A infection, as part of a national outbreak linked to contaminated frozen pomegranates.

The Western Australia case follows five cases in New South Wales, one in Australian Capital Territory and one in Queensland.

The implicated product is Creative Gourmet brand pomegranate arils, sold at Coles Supermarkets.

As a precautionary measure, Entyce Food Ingredients Pty Ltd has issued a voluntary recall of its Creative Gourmet Frozen Pomegranate Aril product.

Western Australia communicable disease control director Dr. Paul Armstrong urged Western Australians who had eaten imported frozen pomegranates, purchased from Coles, to see their family GP if they develop symptoms of hepatitis A.

“Hepatitis A is a virus and symptoms of infection include fever, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, dark urine and pale stools,” he said.

“Symptoms can take two to seven weeks to develop after eating contaminated food. People can also become infected from being in contact with infected people and drinking water contaminated with the virus.”