Shellfish enthusiasts, take note: you might want to lay off the raw bar for a while. Health authorities are waving red flags about a certain batch of imported oysters, linked to a nasty norovirus outbreak. The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is the latest to issue a consumer advisory, urging vigilance when it comes to slurping down raw oysters. The affected oysters hail from northwest Mexico, specifically from a harvest area in Sonora that's under scrutiny.
It all started with a gastronomic mishap last week up the coast, with San Diego County clocking in 41 norovirus cases, and L.A. County feeling the brunt of 27 gastrointestinal incidents; all from raw oysters gobbled down in local eateries, and although these cases began popping up around mid-December, it's taken some time to connect the dots and track them back to the source: Sonora, Mexico, the contaminated goods—marketed as "Rocky Point oysters"—only made it to restaurant and wholesale plates, some of which set up shop in Orange County.
The OC HCA's Environmental Health Division is acting, asking restaurants to sideline oysters packed by GOLPAC from Bahia Salina, Sonora until authorities can get to the bottom of the outbreak. Those in the business of serving oysters have been told to cool it with the suspect stock while the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) wades through the investigation. Diners, meanwhile, are encouraged to ask and double-check where their raw oysters come from before taking the plunge.
Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, HCA's honcho on public health services, didn't mince words when she advised caution: "Until the source is confirmed, consumers should be cautious before eating raw oysters," she warned, noting the importance of hygiene to prevent the spread of illness at home, which, given our current scenario, involves icky symptoms like nausea, stomach cramps, and even the risk of dehydration after 12 to 48 hours post-consumption.
Gastrointestinal warfare aside, if raw oysters are your dish of choice and you find yourself feeling queasy, reach out to a doc or the HCA by emailing [email protected] or giving them a ring at (714) 433-6418. To keep abreast of what's going down in the community health department or if you're curious about what the HCA is all about, head to their website at www.ochealthinfo.com.
