The Washington State Department of Health has announced that Vibrio bacteria have led to the closure of three commercial growing areas and caused 30 confirmed illnesses in Washington this summer.
Totten Inlet near Olympia,North Bay and Dabob Bay in north Hood Canal will be closed for the rest of the summer due to these bacteria,which are common in warm weather conditions.Once water temperatures begin to cool in October 2012,these growing areas will re-opened.
Vibriosis is caused due to the consumption raw or undercooked oysters that have Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in them.Cooking shellfish until the shells just open is not enough to kill Vibrio bacteria.
Shellfish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for at least 15 seconds.Don't rinse cooked oysters in seawater,which can re-contaminate them,the department noted.
Vibriosis symptoms include diarrhea,stomach cramps,nausea,vomiting,headache,fever,and chills.Symptoms usually appear 12-24 hours after eating infected shellfish,and can last two to seven days.
Vibriosis can be life-threatening for people with low immunity or chronic liver disease.
