Bad oyster arm: An outbreak of food poisoning linked to raw seafood has killed more than 200 people in at least eight states
- More than 200 Americans in eight states have contracted norovirus
- The foodborne illness was caused by oysters harvested in Texas last month
- No hospitalizations or deaths have been recorded as part of this outbreak
More than 200 Americans in eight states have contracted norovirus after eating contaminated raw oysters.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice Thursday warning that shellfish harvested in Galveston Bay, Texas, is contaminated.
These oysters were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
The oysters have been recalled. The CDC says any oysters in packages that say they were harvested from November 17 to December 7 in the TX1 area should be discarded.
No hospitalizations or deaths have been recorded as part of this outbreak. Norovirus is the most common foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 900 deaths annually.
The warning comes after oysters harvested from South Korea were linked to sapovirus cases in the US last month.
Officials report that contaminated oysters have been sold in eight US states in connection with a norovirus outbreak with 200 cases
“The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers not to eat harvested oysters and restaurants and grocery retailers not to sell the harvested oysters [during the time period]’ the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wrote in a press release.
Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause severe gastrointestinal side effects in infected individuals. These include: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
A person will often experience these symptoms within 48 hours of infection. For the majority of people, these symptoms will go away naturally within a few days.
However, it can pose a danger to young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
The CDC estimates annual norovirus infections in the US at 20 million, although it’s nearly impossible to track that number accurately because many sick people recover from symptoms at home without visiting a doctor.
Norovirus is responsible for 465,000 emergency room visits, 109,000 hospital admissions and nearly 1,000 deaths each year.
Officials warn that almost all of these cases involve people who are at increased risk from the virus.
Norovirus is also more popular in winter than other months, with the CDC reporting that annual cases typically peak in January.
This isn’t because the foodborne illness thrives in cold weather, but rather because it can spread quickly due to the time people spend indoors during the season.
Some have therefore dubbed the virus “winter vomiting disease.”
Norovirus often lingers in raw shellfish products like oysters, clams, clams, and scallops.
The CDC recommends cooking oysters to at least 145 F before eating to eliminate the risk of infection.
Norovirus isn’t the only danger that could be lurking in the shellfish.
Oysters harvested in South Korea were linked to a confirmed case of sapovirus – another foodborne illness – in Las Vegas last month
There were nine other suspected infections and the FDA advised Americans to avoid selling raw oysters in 13 states.
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WHAT IS NOROVIRUS AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ELIMINATE?
Norovirus is the most common stomach infection in the US and is known as winter vomit because it usually occurs in winter.
It usually clears up on its own within 24 to 48 hours, but it can be very serious for already frail patients and can lead to dehydration.
The virus, which can also cause diarrhea, is extremely contagious and can cause major disruption in hospitals because it spreads so quickly between patients.
But the winter vomit beetle is prone to mutating, and some strains are worse than others, resulting in a higher number of infections.