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Update: This warning was expanded on Aug. 24, 2007 to include "growing area 5."
FDA Press Release
FDA is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from certain areas of the southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington after an outbreak of illness (vibriosis) caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.
Symptoms of vibriosis include 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. Severe disease is rare and occurs most commonly in people with weakened immune systems.
Raw oysters harvested from "growing area 6" in Hood Canal from July 3, 2007 and after, have caused at least six people to become ill in California and Washington . Additional reports of illness are being investigated by the states. FDA recently announced that consumers also should not eat raw oysters from "growing area 5."
To date, records indicate that raw oysters from the areas were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Delaware, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, British Columbia (Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, and Thailand.
The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area associated with the illness and has asked commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them.
FDA advises that consumers can continue to enjoy oysters in many cooked preparations by doing the following:
To steam—add oysters to water that is already steaming and cook live oysters until the shells open. Once open, steam for another four to nine minutes.
For more information, see "Shellfish growing areas close due to vibriosis outbreak"
www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2007_news/07-131.htm
Date Posted: August 13, 2007
Updated: August 27, 2007