A woman who died of hepatitis A during an outbreak which led to a nationwide recall of a frozen fruit product was about to retire.
Adelaide woman Lesley Rolton, 64, contracted hepatitis A from frozen pomegranate arils and died in hospital last Wednesday.
Her heartbroken family have revealed that she was planning her retirement before falling ill from consuming the seeds, 9 News reported.
Lesley Rolton (pictured) of Surrey Downs in Adelaide contracted hepatitis A from frozen pomegranate
Packs of Creative Gourmet 180g frozen pomegranate, sold at Coles, were recalled in April after a hepatitis A outbreak in New South Wales.
SA Health chief public health officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the woman’s death was a ‘rare and tragic case’.
‘The majority of people infected with hepatitis A recover fully and the woman’s death is the only death linked to this recalled product nationally to date.
Packs of Creative Gourmet 180g frozen pomegranate arils, sold at Coles, were recalled in April after a hepatitis A outbreak in New South Wales
‘The incubation period for hepatitis A is generally 15-50 days, so we don’t anticipate further cases because the product was recalled two months ago.
‘While we expect most people would have disposed of the recalled product, we urge everyone to double-check freezers and remove any affected products.’
The Surrey Downs woman’s death has been referred to the coroner.
About 2000 packets of the pomegranate, which was grown in Egypt, have been sold.
SA Health chief public health officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the woman’s death was a ‘rare and tragic case’ (pictured)
Of those 226 packets have been returned, but health authorities believe many more were thrown away.
There have been 24 cases of hepatitis A cases linked to the recalled pomegranate across Australia.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowing skin and dark urine.