39 Sickened After Eating Raw Oysters In King County, Health Officials Say

SEATTLE, WA - King County health officials say that 39 people have been sickened over the last few months by a foodborne illness traced to raw oysters served at restaurants around the area.

The illnesses, which resemble norovirus, have been reported over a period of about two months - between Jan. 10 and March 20 - by diners who ate at 11 different restaurants and one private event. Although the county has not had laboratory confirmation that the illnesses are norovirus, an extremely common foodborne illness, officials took the occasion to warn that consuming raw oysters puts you at risk of contracting the virus.

Norovirus is an extremely contagious disease that spreads easily between people and causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In recent months, restaurants and schools around Puget Sound have closed due to suspected norovirus contamination. The virus tends to spread more easily in winter because people are in close quarters.

The oysters at the root of the illnesses came from different growing areas in Washington, according to the county. However, 22 people were sickened by oysters traced to a Samish Bay location that was closed by the state Department of Health on March 17.

King County officials inspected each of the locations where the oysters were served and found "[n]o factors that can contribute to the spread of norovirus" - except at one restaurant where an employee was observed improperly washing lettuce. No sick employees of the restaurants have been located, the county said.

For more on the outbreak and a list of affected restaurants, visit the county website.

Image via Pixabay