The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday released an advisory warning consumers to avoid eating oysters harvested from San Antonia Bay in the Gulf of Texas on or after 16 November due to reports of norovirus-associated illnesses.
There have been about a dozen reports of norovirus-related illnesses in South and North Carolina.
The oyster beds in question were closed on 26 November. In addition, the Texas Department of State Health Services ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from the area between 16 and 25 November.
Consumers who purchased the oysters on or after 16 November are urged to dispose of them. At restaurants, consumers can ask about the source of the oysters on the menu, said the FDA. Restaurant operators and retailers should not offer the oysters subject to the advisory, added the agency.
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to the virus. The illness typically lasts one to two days. Norovirus usually is not life-threatening and does not generally cause long-term health problems.
No other seafood is affected by the advisory, said the FDA.
