With Hurricane Milton poised to hit Florida tomorrow, and people still cleaning up from Helene, there are some things you need to know about flood water. Drowning and building damage are not the only risks from floods. And this water is not just dirty. Flood waters contain chemicals, pollutants, bacteria, toxins, and viruses that can … Read more
A Vibrio death is being investigated by public health officials in Escambia County, Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health in that county. Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that lives in warm, brackish seawater and it grows faster in the warmer summer months. Shellfish, including oysters, consume the pathogen as they feed on plankton, … Read more
Every year people are sickened by certain types of foods. Avoid making and serving these potentially dangerous holiday foods this season. Some are inherently dangerous, and others are easily contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The potentially harmful foods include cannibal sandwiches, raw cookie dough, eggnog, unpasteurized cider, and raw oysters. Cannibal sandwiches are sandwiches made with … Read more
AFC Distribution Corp. of Rancho Dominguez, California is voluntarily recalling Cooked Butterfly Tail-On Whiteleg Shrimp (Sushi Ebi) because may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacteria that can cause illness such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and chills. No illnesses have been confirmed to date with the company. This product was sold … Read more
The Shigella, Vibrio, and E. coli outbreak that is linked to raw oysters harvested from Estero El Cardon estuary in Baja California Sur, Mexico, has ended after sickening 16 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state is: … Read more
Raw oysters that are linked to a multistate, multi pathogen food poisoning outbreak have been recalled, according to the California Department of Public Health. The recalling firm is DiCarlo Seafood of Wilmington, California. At least 16 people who live in 5 states are sick in this outbreak. The pathogens involved are Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and … Read more
Oysters from Mexico are linked to a multistate Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some patients were sickened with more than one pathogen. This outbreak was reported by the California Department of Public Health on May 7, 2019; all of the patients at that … Read more
Raw oysters are usually consumed in the summer months. But that particular type of seafood is linked to a disease called vibriosis that can make you very sick. Vibrio bacteria grow naturally in salt water. The three main strains of disease-causing vibrio bacteria are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. About 80,000 people are sickened … Read more
Climate change is increasing the number of pathogens in oysters, according to a study published in the National Academy of Sciences. The bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus and vulnificus occur naturally in the ocean. Their numbers increase when the water temperatures increase. And oysters, since they are filter feeders, take up these bacteria. When the oysters are … Read more
The Washington State Department of Heath has posted information about how to safely handle, store, and cook shellfish. There have been Vibrio and norovirus outbreaks linked to eating uncooked shellfish, especially oysters, this year. All fresh shellfish should be stored in an open container in the fridge. Put a damp towel on the container to … Read more