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Oyster Bay Harbor in New York Closed due to Food Poisoning

July 23, 2012 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that consumers should avoid eating shellfish from Oyster Bay Harbor, Nassau County, New York. The agency has received reports of illnesses in many states caused by the Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacteria that causes acute food poisoning.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closed Oyster Bay Harbor to shellfish harvesting on July 13, 2012. The harbor will remained closed until the DEC indicates that shellfish harvested in the area are no longer a threat to public health. No other harbors have been closed in the outbreak.

The FDA is warning that any shellfish harvested in the bay after June 1, 2012 should be discarded and not eaten. Shellfish harvesters, shippers, re-shippers, processors, restaurants, and retail food establishments have been warned about the recall.

Consumers who have shellfish but don’t know where it was harvested should ask the retailer, restaurant, or other facility about the source of the shellfish. Any people who become ill after eating shellfish should contact their health care provider and report the exposure.

Shellfish from Oyster Bay Harbor has been distributed in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Other states may have also receive the contaminated shellfish.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacteria in the same family as bacteria that causes cholera. It lives in salty, brackish water and causes acute gastrointestinal illness in humans. It occurs naturally in coastal ares in the U.S. and Canada, but is more common during the summer.

The bacteria causes watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. The infection usually begins within a few hours, but up to five days within eating the contaminated food. The illness usually ends within three days in healthy individuals, and severe complications are rare. Infection is most common when people eat raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters.

Do I have a Shellfish Food Poisoning Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting shellfish food poisoning induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by shellfish food poisoning, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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