On April 10, the Washington State Department of Health recommended the following to the FDA: recall Certain shellfish can be infected with a norovirus-like illness associated with eating raw oysters.
The recall includes all types of shellfish from Gomez Shellfish LLC (WA-1724-SS) harvested from March 22 to April 9 in the Hammersley Inlet area of Washington.
The FDA has issued an alert advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell the recalled shellfish and advising consumers not to eat the shellfish.
FDA is awaiting additional information regarding the distribution of harvested raw oysters and clams and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.
About norovirus infection
Food and drinks contaminated with norovirus may not look or smell unpleasant, but they can cause serious illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of norovirus infection may include vomiting and/or diarrhea, nausea, muscle pain, fever, and headache. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure and may last 1 to 3 days. Most people recover without treatment, but some may require treatment due to dehydration.
People with norovirus can easily spread the infection to others. Viruses can live on surfaces for a long time.
To avoid making others sick, always wash your hands carefully with soap and warm water after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. Use soap and water to clean bathrooms or other areas that may be soiled with feces or vomit. Hard surfaces can be disinfected by mixing 1/3 cup of household bleach in 1 gallon of water. Always wear gloves when handling bleach-based cleaners.
