Oyster Norovirus Lawsuit

In recent years, raw oysters have sickened hundreds of people in multiple outbreaks of norovirus.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting oyster induced food poisoning cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Norovirus after eating oysters, 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.

UPDATE: 41 People Infected With Norovirus From Oysters

In January 2024, an outbreak of Norovirus illnesses in San Diego, California sickened at least 41 people who ate raw oysters from Mexico, according to a Food Safety Alert from the FDA. Click here to read more.

Norovorus Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters from Canada

In July 2023, health officials reported that raw oysters from Canada were linked to an outbreak of Norovirus illnesses. The oysters were harvested on June 9 from location NS 10 in Nova Scotia, Canada, and distributed to 17 states in the U.S. and Washington D.C. Click here to read more.

Texas Oysters Linked to 211 Illnesses in 8 States

In December 2022, oysters that were harvested from part of Galveston Bay, Texas, sickened hundreds of people with Norovirus.

The FDA warned restaurants and stores not to serve or sell raw oysters that were harvested from Harvest Area TX 1 between November 17 and December 7, 2022.

On December 8, health officials in Texas closed the area to oyster harvesting and said it will not re-open until water tests show that it is safe.

On December 15, 2022, the CDC reported that approximately 211 illnesses had been reported in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

CDC Reports 103 Norovirus Illnesses From 13 States

In April 2022, the CDC reported that raw oysters from Canada were linked to 103 illnesses in 13 states.

Canadian health officials reported that as of March 30, 2022, there have been at least 279 people in Canada who experienced gastrointestinal illnesses after eating raw oysters from British Columbia between mid-January and late March 2022.

Not The 1st Outbreak — Raw Oysters From Canada Linked to 331 Illnesses in 2016-2017

This is not the first major outbreak of food poisoning linked to raw oysters from Canada. Between December 2016 and March 2017, there was another large outbreak with 331 cases of gastrointestinal illness reported in Canada. All of the people who fell ill reported eating oysters 12 to 48 hours before their illness began.

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly-contagious type of virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads very easily from direct contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, and surfaces. In the past, massive outbreaks of Norovirus have been linked to cruise ships, restaurants, schools, and raw shellfish.

Symptoms of Norovirus

People who are infected with Norovirus usually develop symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of eating contaminated food, but symptoms can start within 12 hours. The illness often begins suddenly.

The main symptoms of Norovirus are:

Diarrhea
Vomiting (usually worse in children)
Nausea
Stomach cramps

Other symptoms may include:

Low-grade fever
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Tiredness

Prognosis & Long-Term Outlook

Most people recover within a few days without needing medical treatment. However, some people develop serious complications, often as a result of dehydration due to severe diarrhea and vomiting. Pregnant women, people with vulnerable immune systems, young children and the elderly are most at risk for severe complications.

Do I have an Oyster Norovirus Lawsuit?

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