Jennie Bourgeois

March 25, 2010

Raw Oysters from Louisiana Sicken 11 in Mississippi with Norovirus

March 25th 2010 Posted to Raw Oysters

Posted: March 25th, 2010 – 2:45am by Doug Powell

The Louisiana state Department of Health and Hospitals has closed a large section of east bank Plaquemines Parish waters to oyster fishing through at least mid-April, after 11 people in Mississippi – at a seafood conference, repeat, at a seafood conference — became sick after eating oysters believed to be traced to that area.

The Times-Picayune reports the state has also issued a recall of any oysters harvested from that area since March 6, meaning wholesalers must review their records and contact any restaurants, brokers or other buyers who bought oysters from those waters. Under Food and Drug Administration and state health guidelines, oyster dealers are required to have a recall plan in effect.

Updated: March 25, 2010 2:20 AM
Source: Associated Press

An outbreak of illnesses in Mississippi two weeks ago prompted a recall Wednesday of oysters harvested in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals says 11 people got sick with norovirus at a seafood conference. One person was hospitalized but has since been released.

The recall affects oysters harvested since March 6 from Basin 4, Area 7 in Plaquemines Parish. It applies to shucked, frozen, breaded and post-harvest processes oysters, as well as those for the half-shell market.

Cooking kills norovirus, but undercooked oysters can still carry it.