Two men in Florida have died after eating raw oysters from Louisina, CBS reports. They both reportedly died from bacterial infection after consuming the raw fish, sparking warnings about the risks involved in eating raw seafoods especially in the summer months.
Discover our latest podcast
Vibrio bacteria
The bacteria linked to the deaths is called Vibrio bacteria which according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, doesn't make an oyster look, smell or taste any different, making it quite dangerous.
The CDC estimates that about 80,000 people get vibriosis in the U.S. each year, and about 100 people die from it. Health experts say most people can fight off an infection, but it can be deadly for people with underlying conditions.
One of the two, a restaurant customer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida had worked at the Rustic Inn, a restaurant famous for garlic crabs. Manager of the Inn, Gary Oreal told the South Florida SunSentinel:
Over the course of 60 years, we have served a couple billion oysters, and we never had anyone get sick like this guy did. If there was a problem with the oyster bed we would know it because others would have gotten sick.
‘Dangerous food to eat’
According to the state health department, so far this year 26 people have become infected with the bacteria and six of them later died after eating raw shellfish, including oysters. Last year, 10 people died out of 34 people sickened.
The restaurant Oreal manages has since put up a sign warning patrons about the risks of eating raw shellfish. He said:
Oysters are top of the mountain for dangerous foods to eat. I have eaten them my entire life, and will continue. But you are putting yourself at risk when you do it.
Read more:
⋙ Food poisoning: 3 early signs to look out for
⋙ Urgent recall: This Tesco cheese could cause food poisoning
