Raw Oysters Linked To Vibrio Outbreak
Hood Canal raw oysters have been linked to an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news release.
The agency is warning consumers not to eat oysters that were harvested from “growing area 4” in Hood Canal, Washington, from August 30 to September 19, after they were linked to three confirmed and two possible cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness. There have been no reports of hospitalizations or deaths resulting from consuming the oysters.
The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area and commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who have initiated a recall. Shipping records indicate that oysters harvested from this area were distributed to establishments in 23 states and four foreign countries. They are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Washington, and to the countries of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand. Washington State authorities have notified those states involved of the recall.
Symptoms of Vibrio illness include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and usually begin between a few hours and five days after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly shellfish, or after ingestion of surface waters. Individuals with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
Source: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm273315.htm
