Raw oysters from certain regions of Mexico can be dangerous. Origin of noroviruswarns the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The agency advised restaurants and retailers to stop selling and destroy oysters harvested in Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico. The oysters were shipped by freight forwarder Sociedad Aquicola Golpac on December 18, 2023, December 19, and December 27, 2023.
Consumers are also advised not to eat these oysters and to seek medical attention if they exhibit symptoms of norovirus.
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The warning primarily targets restaurants, retailers and consumers in California, but the FDA noted that potentially contaminated oysters may have been shipped to other states.
The FDA was first alerted to the norovirus outbreak. san diego county On January 10, information related to oysters shipped from Mexico was released.
The FDA has warned that raw oysters produced in certain regions of Mexico may be a source of norovirus infection. (St. Petersburg)
“Investigations are ongoing and numbers of illnesses are being tracked,” the FDA warning states.
“Mexican shellfish authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the disease and have closed the Bahia Salina farm for harvest on January 12, 2024.”
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Contaminated oysters may “look, smell and taste normal,” but eating them raw can cause illness, especially in people with weakened immune systems, officials said.
Dr. Edward Liu, director of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, told FOX News Digital that the oysters likely grew in contaminated water.
“This virus occurs more often in the cold season and is highly contagious, so it can infect large groups of people,” he said.
The FDA warned that while contaminated oysters may “look, smell, and taste normal,” they can cause illness if eaten raw. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Mark Siegel, Clinical Professor, School of Medicine New York University Langone Medical Center said the FOX News medical contributor. The biggest problem is that people tend to eat oysters raw, which means they carry the highest amount of norovirus if contaminated.
“I'm going to pay close attention to these alerts and avoid all oysters from these areas of Mexico,” he told Fox News Digital.
What is norovirus?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Often referred to as a “stomach cold” or “stomach bug”, this is not the case. Influenza related.
The main symptoms of the virus include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. stomach pain.
Some people may also experience fever, headache, and body aches.
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Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration for some patients.
“Treatment is supported by hydration until symptoms improve,” said New Jersey's Liu. “The most vulnerable people are the very young and elderly who cannot tolerate dehydration, or those with weakened immune systems.”
This figure provides a three-dimensional (3D) and graphical representation of numerous norovirus virions set against a black background, based on electron microscopy (EM) images. (CDC/Jessica A. Allen)
Symptoms usually develop within 12 to 48 hours after exposure and tend to subside within 1 to 3 days, according to the CDC.
A new stool test (a PCR-based test) can detect the virus and may be available for: hospital emergency room However, Liu noted that old stool cultures do not detect the virus.
“The most vulnerable people are the very young, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems.”
“Outbreaks have occurred due to contaminated food and are more common in certain settings such as cruise ships and patient facilities,” he said.
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To prevent the spread of the disease, Louis emphasized the importance of good hand hygiene and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
“Careful hand washing and the use of gloves can prevent food handlers from catching or passing it on,” Siegel added.
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The FDA advised that anyone who develops symptoms of illness after consuming oysters should seek medical attention and report symptoms to their local health department.
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