Fox News – Eight states are among those impacted by an outbreak of norovirus linked to raw oysters from Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Along with the Lone Star state, others include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
The CDC has clarified that it does not want restaurants and food retailers to serve raw oysters that came from harvest area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas, between November 17 and December 7.
The CDC said 211 illnesses have been reported as of December 15.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that the raw oysters harvested in Galveston are potentially contaminated with norovirus.
Even though norovirus is sometimes referred to as a stomach bug or stomach flu, it is very contagious and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
What Is Norovirus?
WebMD – Norovirus is thought to be the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting illness) around the world. It spreads easily through food and drink and can have a big impact on people’s health.
Norovirus was originally called the Norwalk virus, after the town of Norwalk, OH, where the first confirmed outbreak happened in 1972.
On average, noroviruses cause 19 million to 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis in the U.S. per year and send more than 450,000 people to the emergency room, according to the CDC.
They cause more than half of all foodborne disease outbreaks each year. There are many types of noroviruses, and exposure to one type may not protect you from the others.
Although norovirus can strike year-round, it’s more common in the winter. People sometimes call it the “winter vomiting bug.” Noroviruses also are sometimes called food poisoning, because they can be transmitted through contaminated food. They aren’t always the result of food contamination, though.
Norovirus Symptoms
If you come down with a norovirus infection, you’ll probably go from feeling completely healthy to absolutely miserable within a day or two after being exposed. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting (more often in children), watery diarrhea (more often in adults), and stomach cramps. SOURCE/READ MORE.
