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March
26, 2004
Little Rock
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The Arkansas
Department of Health is echoing an advisory from
the Food and Drug Administration warning about the risks
of eating raw oysters for individuals with liver disease
and certain other medical conditions that make them more
susceptible to infection from the bacterium, Vibrio
vulnificus. The ADH is advising these "high
risk" individuals to only eat cooked oysters,
because cooking destroys the bacterium.
Many people eat raw oysters during parties and
celebrations, while they are drinking alcohol.
Frequently, these individuals don't understand that
eating raw oysters can be dangerous to people with liver
disease or weakened immune systems. Drinking two to
three alcoholic drinks each day can cause liver disease.
Liver function may be impaired years before an
individual begins to experience symptoms.
People may be at high risk for infection from Vibrio
vulnificus and not even know it.
A person can’t tell if an oyster is
contaminated by Vibrio vulnificus by looking at
it or by smelling it.
Because heat kills the bacteria, the only way to
be sure of not eating a contaminated oyster is to eat it
cooked.
To protect themselves from serious illness or
death, the FDA is urging anyone whose immune system may
be weakened to avoid raw oysters and to cook oysters
thoroughly when dining at home, or order them cooked when eating out.
In the last two years, the FDA reports that,
nationally, nine Hispanic men died after eating raw
oysters contaminated with a bacterium that is commonly
found in waters where oysters are cultivated during the
warm weather months.
Last year's deaths suggest that some people in
Hispanic communities may not be aware of the risk of
this infection from eating raw oysters.
Of all diseases, infection with Vibrio
vulnificus is one of the most severe. When healthy
individuals are affected, mild stomach or intestinal
symptoms such as diarrhea or pain may occur. However, 50
percent of the high-risk individuals who are infected
with Vibrio vulnificus die.
For more information, click on http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/vv-toc.html
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