The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against eating live oysters from Washington state, which may have higher levels of bacteria due to a heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
The FDA was quoted as saying, "Oysters from Washington State should be thoroughly cooked," adding the oysters should be boiled in water three to five minutes after the shells open and steaming live oysters four to nine minutes in a steamer that's already steaming.
About 40 illnesses were reported in California and Washington state due to
the consumption of raw oysters, the FDA said. An additional 100 cases have been reported in British Columbia leading to the closing of harvesting areas in that region.
FROM: ProMED-mail<promed@usa.healthnet.org>