March 25, 2004

Vibrio vulnificus Educational Tool Kit Available on the Web

FDA has produced a tool kit, available electronically, to help local health educators inform the Hispanic community about the dangers of eating raw oysters. These oysters may be contaminated with bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which can cause serious illness or death. This is a particular concern in the Hispanic community since raw oysters are a favorite food, especially among Hispanic males.

How to Generate Awareness of Vibrio vulnificus of Raw Oysters with the Hispanic Community includes tools a health educator needs to conduct a media relations and community outreach health education campaign. The tool kit, available in a brochure format, is on the Web at http//:www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/vv-toc.html.

The electronic materials, available in both Spanish and English, can be tailored to each community. They include:

• Campaign launch press release
• Letter to inform reporters on the availability of spokespersons
• Vibrio vulnificus fact sheet
• Feature/newsletter article
• Raw oysters myths
• Recipes for cooked oysters
• Radio public service announcement
• Fotonovela, an illustrated storybook that shows what may happen in people with weakened immune systems who eat oysters contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus.

FDA is providing these materials now as April is typically the beginning of the season when Vibrio vulnificus problems arise due to the warmer water temperatures.