FDA Investigating Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Oysters: Consumers Advised to Avoid Raw Oysters Harvested from San Antonio Bay

March 2, 2007

Consumer Inquiries: 1-888-SAFEFOOD

The FDA is investigating an outbreak of norovirus-associated illness linked to eating raw oysters harvested from San Antonio Bay, TX.  FDA advises consumers to avoid eating raw oysters harvested from this area after February 1, 2007 as a result of reports of illnesses in people who attended a Maryand event where these oysters were served.  Symptoms of illness associated with norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.  Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.  Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to the virus.  The illness typically lasts one to two days.

Consumers who ate oyster products served in restaurants after February 1 and experienced symptoms of norovirus are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider and local health department.  Consumers concerned about oysters purchased during this period should contact their place of purchase to determine if the oysters are from the affected lot of oysters.

To date, illnesses have been reported by 25 individuals who ate raw oysters over the weekend of February 9, 2007 - February 11, 2007 at a Bull and Oyster event in Maryland.  The MD Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's test results from ill patients are positive for norovirus.

The implicated oyster beds in the San Antonio Bay area were closed by the Texas Department of Health Services on February 25, 2007 and remain closed.  Bayview Seafood, a distributor in Seadrift, TX, issued a voluntary recall on February 26, 2007.  Oysters subject to the recall were mislabeled by the Rose Bay Oyster Company, indicating Galveston Bay as the harvest area; the implicated oysters were actually harvested from San Antonio Bay. Oysters with tags that read: "Gal 1. 2/2/07" are subject to the recall.

FDA will continue working with Maryland health officials to track any additional cases of norovirus illness.  FDA will continue to provide regular updates to the public as this investigation unfolds. 

Persons with weakened immune systems, including those affected by AIDS, and persons with chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach or blood disorders, cancer diabetes, or kidney disease should avoid raw oyster consumption altogether, regardless of where the oysters were harvested.

Cooking destroys the virus, eliminating the risk of illness for both healthy and immunocompromised individuals.  FDA advises that its always best to ook seafood thoroughly to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.  For further information on preparing, cooking and storing seafood properly, contact FDA Food Safety Hotline at 1-888-SAFEFOOD or www.cfsan.fda.gov.  http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01579.html