HONOLULU (AP) — A Honolulu woman who contracted hepatitis A after eating scallops identified as the likely source of the state’s outbreak has died.
The Hawaii Department of Health said the woman, who has not been identified, died earlier this week at a hospital. A spokesman would not provide further information, citing an ongoing investigation.
Bill Marler, an attorney for the woman’s family, said the 68-year-old had been in and out of the hospital since she became ill this summer after eating at Genki Sushi.
“There were times where she needed a liver transplant, but when it seemed she rallied from the illness, she got to go home for a little while, and then she was back in the hospital with complications,” said Marler, who is also representing other people who have been affected by the outbreak.
The sushi chain closed its restaurants on Oahu and Kauai after officials linked the outbreak to frozen scallops served raw by the business. The restaurants have since reopened.
“We are aware of the death of somebody who was previously reported as being infected with hepatitis A,” said Jonathan Hilts, information specialist with the health department’s Disease Outbreak Control Division. “This death was reported to us by Queen’s (Medical Center) earlier this week. But beyond that we can’t say much.”
The state’s hepatitis A outbreak has sickened 291 people since it began in late June.
No new cases were reported this week.