Originally published August 11, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 11, 2007 at 2:04 AM
Avoid some oysters, FDA says
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday advised people not to eat raw oysters harvested in a small area of Washington state, citing...
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday advised people not to eat raw oysters harvested in a small area of Washington state, citing bacterial illnesses that have sickened at least six people in that state and California.
The state Department of Health closed the area associated with the vibriosis illness, the southern tip of Hood Canal, and has asked commercial harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them.
Raw oysters from the area were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Additional reports of illnesses are being investigated by the states, according to an FDA release.
Consumers who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if the oysters were harvested from the affected area.
Symptoms of vibriosis, caused by the vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria, include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever and chills and usually appear within 24 hours after eating the oysters. Severe disease is rare and occurs mostly in people with compromised immune systems.
To avoid the illness, consumers should make sure the oysters are cooked at 145 degrees to kill the bacteria, according to the FDA. For more information, consumers can call the FDA at 888-463-6332 or go to www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2007_news/07-131.htm.
The current recall comes one year after an unusually large vibriosis outbreak that sickened scores of people. But that does not indicate a growing problem, said Jeff Smith, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Health.
Some cases occur every year, he said, and "this year is pretty normal."
The problem is not associated with pollution, but is caused by the specific bacteria, typically found in saltwater, which proliferate in hot weather. The summertime combination of warm weather and low tides during warm parts of the day contributes to the growth of the bacteria, Smith said.
It's present in all shellfish, but people most typically get sick after eating raw oysters.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
Illegal workers quietly let go
Metro won't cut bus service after all
Jerry Large: Food-bank theft turns into a gift
Bumper to Bumper: How can the city let bridges go dark?

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
A little friendly competition between professional pie-baker Kate McDermott and The Seatttle Times' Kathleen Triesch Saul is handled with great taste.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
383 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
211 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
159 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
101 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
96 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
85 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
82 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
74 - Seattle woman charged with knife attack on boyfriend's ex
71 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
68
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit





