Post by south on Jul 20, 2021 21:11:08 GMT
www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/washington-shellfish-illness-2021-heat-wave-16324859.php
The Washington Department of Health (DOH) has reported 52 cases of vibriosis so far in July, surpassing the highest number of cases ever recorded for the month. Of those cases, 26 were contracted from commercial oysters and four were harvested recreationally. Symptoms of vibriosis usually appear about 12-24 hours after consumption and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever and chills.
The DOH advises residents to follow three rules for consuming shellfish: check the state's safety maps before harvesting, chill shellfish immediately and cook at 145° F for 15 seconds to kill any bacteria. Shellfish should also be gathered as the tide goes out, and any shellfish exposed to the sun for over an hour should not be harvested.
Last month's heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest with triple digit temperatures had devastating impacts on marine life. Experts estimated that more than one billion sea creatures, from mussels to snails to crabs, were cooked to death in the heat.
