The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating an outbreak of norovirus-associated illness linked to eating raw oysters harvested from San Antonio Bay, Texas. FDA advises consumers to avoid eating raw oysters harvested from this area after Feb. 1, 2007, as a result of reports of illnesses in people who attended a Maryland event where these oysters were served. Symptoms of illness associated with norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to the virus. The illness typically lasts one to two days.
Consumers who ate oyster products served in restaurants after Feb. 1 and experienced symptoms of norovirus are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider and local health department. Consumers concerned about oysters purchased during this period should contact their place of purchase to determine if the oysters are from the affected lot of oysters.
To date, illnesses have been reported by 25 individuals who ate raw oysters over the weekend of Feb. 9-11, 2007 at a Bull & Oyster Event in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s test results from ill patients are positive for norovirus.
The implicated oyster beds in the San Antonio Bay were closed by the Texas Department of Health Services on February 24, 2007 and remain closed. Bayview Seafood, a distributor in Seadrift, Texas, issued a voluntary recall on Feb. 26, 2007. Another distributor, Rose Bay Oyster Company of Swanquarter, NC, issued a voluntary recall on Feb. 28, 2007. Oysters subject to the recall were mislabeled by the Rose Bay Oyster Company, indicating Galveston Bay as the harvest area; the implicated oysters were actually harvested from San Antonio Bay. Oysters with tags that read: “Gal 1, 2/2/07†are subject to the recall.
The FDA will continue working with health officials in Maryland to track any additional cases of norovirus illness. FDA will continue to provide regular updates to the public as this investigation unfolds.
Persons with weakened immune systems, including those affected by AIDS, and persons with chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes or kidney disease should avoid raw oyster consumption altogether, regardless of where the oysters are harvested.
Cooking destroys the virus, eliminating the risk of illness for both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. FDA advises that it’s always best to cook seafood thoroughly to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
Source: FDA
No related posts.
Navigation
- April 2020
- January 2015
- May 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- January 2011
- March 2010
- February 2010
- November 2009
- July 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- April 2008
- February 2008
- November 2007
- July 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- October 2006
- 040 Hosting Our Sponsor and Webhost
- de Grote Griep meting De grote Griep Meting.
- EU Food borne viruses
- Norovirus Database
- RIVM Rijksinstituut voor volksgezondheid en milieu
Leave Your Response
You must be logged in to post a comment.