Public health officials warn restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell potentially contaminated raw oysters related to a norovirus outbreak that has affected at least 91 people in more than a dozen U.S. states and 279 more in Canada.
Possibly contaminated raw oysters harvested in British Columbia, Canada, were distributed in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington, the Administration said. of U.S. Food and Drug Administration in an updated Wednesday.
US Food and Drug Administration
At least 91 norovirus diseases have been reported in these 13 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of the sick people reported eating raw oysters when interviewed by state and local public health officials, the CDC said.
Among those affected are 29 Minnesota people who fell ill after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen on March 20th. Since then, the restaurant has stopped serving Stellar Bay Gold oysters.
Washington State officials said Tuesday that 26 residents had reported norovirus-like symptoms after eating oysters from British Columbia since March 7.
Other states may also have received these oysters, which federal and state officials are working to eliminate from the food supply, according to the FDA.
Canadian public health officials say there have been 279 cases of norovirus and gastrointestinal diseases related to oysters in British Columbia in that province, as well as in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Those affected fell ill between mid-January and the end of last month, with no deaths.
Oysters can cause disease if eaten raw, especially in those with compromised immune systems. Foods contaminated with norovirus can have a normal appearance, smell, and taste.
Norovirus infects and makes people sick 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and its symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach ache, fever, headache, and body aches. Most people recover without treatment, but in some people (very young, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems), norovirus infection can cause severe dehydration and even death.
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, with about 2,500 outbreaks reported each year. Beyond consuming contaminated food or water, people can get norovirus from other infected people or touch contaminated surfaces and put their hands without washing their mouths.
Norovirus is sometimes called stomach flu, although the disease is not related to the flu, which is caused by the flu virus.
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