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One oyster typically filters 50 liters of water daily and retains “harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites, which may occur naturally in the water”
Published June 19, 2023 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • read for 3 minutes
People infected with Vibrio vulnificus usually begin to experience symptoms 12 to 72 hours after consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Photo by Getty Images
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A Missouri man died after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria from eating raw oysters from a seafood stand, health officials said.
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The 54-year-old, whom authorities have not publicly identified, became infected after eating oysters bought at The Fruit Stand & Seafood in Manchester, XX UK? XX announced the St. Louis County Public Health Department last week.
He died after being infected with the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, which is contracted from eating raw or undercooked oysters and other shellfish.
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Investigators said the man ate the oysters (XX do we know how many? XX) sometime in the week prior to his death, and passed away on June 8.
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“There is no evidence that the company did anything to contaminate the oysters, which were likely already contaminated when the establishment received them,” said DPH investigators. All remaining oysters in the establishment were embargoed by DPH,” the release read.
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Vibrio vulnificus infections cause symptoms such as abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and blisters. Death is a rare outcome, but people with weakened immune systems may be more susceptible.
People infected with Vibrio vulnificus typically begin to experience symptoms 12 to 72 hours after eating raw or undercooked seafood, although it can take up to a week for symptoms to appear, Food Safety News reported.
Although oysters are generally harvested in tempered water, the presence of bacteria in coastal waters increases from May to October. That’s because sea temperatures warm during those months, creating favorable conditions for bacteria like vibrio to multiply.
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XX Do we have statistics on the number of raw oyster deaths reported to date, both in Canada and globally? Or how many die from raw oysters every year? XX
In 2018, Canada had its own oyster scare after a possible salmonella outbreak. Future Seafoods of Fernwood, PEI had to recall its Malpeque brand oysters (XX What quantity was recalled? XX) due to an increased risk of contamination. The recall was the result of test results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the CBC reported.
One oyster filters an average of 50 liters of water per day. In doing so, the mollusks “catch harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites, which may occur naturally in the water,” Dave Love, PhD, a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future told SELF Magazine.
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XX What is the most popular way to eat oysters? Is it raw? Or do people usually cook them? XX
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided tips for reducing the risk of vibriosis.
Always cook oysters or other shellfish before eating: do not eat them raw or undercooked. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. Avoid cross-contaminating cooked shellfish with raw shellfish and their juices. Stay out of salt water or brackish water if you have a wound (including from a recent surgery, piercing or tattoo) if there is a chance it could come into contact with salt water or brackish water, raw seafood or raw seafood juices, or cover the wound with a waterproof bandage. Wash cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to seawater or raw seafood or its juices.
For more health news and content on diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, medicines, treatments and more, visit Health.ca – member of the Postmedia Network.
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