April 2, 2022Updated: April 3, 2022 7:08 am
Californians are warned after a norovirus outbreak linked to oysters.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — At least 34 people across the state have contracted norovirus in California in recent weeks after eating raw oysters harvested in British Columbia, Canada, state health officials said Saturday.
The state Department of Health issued a warning not to eat raw oysters imported from British Columbia, where officials have closed several growing areas over sanitary contamination.
In California, people who ate oysters at nine restaurants across the state between March 11 and March 19 reported getting sick. Diseases related to British Columbia oysters have also been reported in other US states, the ministry said.
Despite multiple recalls of British Columbia oysters, the Department of Health said it continued to receive reports of human illness. It advised restaurants and retailers to check their inventories and shellfish labels to ensure potentially contaminated raw oysters are not available for purchase, and discard any leftover contaminated oysters.
Canada has reported more than 270 cases of gastrointestinal illness associated with eating raw oysters.
Norovirus is contagious and causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and fever.