The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting people to the possibility that raw oysters from specific regions of Mexico may contain norovirus.
Restaurants and retailers who carry oysters harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico should stop selling and discard them, according to the agency. The oysters were shipped on December 18, December 19, and December 27, 2023 by freight carrier Sociedad Acuicola GolPac.
Additionally, customers are urged not to consume these oysters and to get medical help if they experience any norovirus symptoms.
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The FDA announced that the potentially contaminated oysters may have been shipped to other states, but the alert is primarily directed at Californian eateries, shops, and customers.
On January 10, the FDA was first made aware of a norovirus outbreak in San Diego County that was connected to oysters that were imported from Mexico.
The FDA alert stated, “An investigation is ongoing and the number of illnesses is being tracked.”
“Mexican shellfish authorities have initiated an investigation into the source of the illnesses and have closed the Bahia Salina growing area to harvest on Jan. 12, 2024.”
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According to the agency, while the tainted oysters may “look, smell, and taste normal,” they can be harmful if consumed raw, especially for people with weakened immune systems.
The oysters most likely grew in tainted water, according to Dr. Edward Liu, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, who spoke with Fox News Digital.
“This virus is more common in colder months and can infect large groups of people due to its highly contagious nature,” he stated.
The largest issue, according to Fox News medical contributor and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center Dr. Marc Siegel, is that people frequently eat oysters raw, which can result in the highest possible risk of norovirus infection.
“I would pay very careful attention to these alerts and avoid all oysters coming from these areas in Mexico,” he stated to Fox News Digital.
