FDA Warns Consumers Not To Eat Certain Raw Oysters From Washington State

The FDA has issued a warning not to eat raw oysters from the southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington state. Oysters from the Hood Canal have been linked to an outbreak of vibriosis, a rare illness caused by the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

The symptoms of vibriosis are: “watery diarrhea, often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion and last no more than three days.”

If you think you have vibriosis and have eaten Hood Canal oysters, tell your health department and see a doctor. The illness is rarely serious in people who do not have weakened immune systems.

So far, only 6 people have become ill from the oysters in California and Washington, but they were distributed to the following locations: California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

If you’ve recently purchased oysters, you should find out where they were grown. The FDA says cooking the oysters will kill the bacteria, but what fun is that?

Consumers Warned to Avoid Eating Raw Oysters from Southern Tip of Hood Canal in Washington State [FDA]

(Photo:bathany1122)

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