Health authorities caution shellfish lovers following the death of a man from Missouri associated with eating raw oysters sold at a seafood stand in St. Louis.
Man Dies After Eating Raw Oysters
Last week, the 54-year-old man reportedly ate raw oysters from Fruit Stand & Seafood in Manchester, the New York Post reports. He received treatment from a hospital in the area and passed away last Thursday. Officials were notified about this situation on Friday.
Fox Weather reports that the health department advised everyone who bought oysters from the business to throw them out.
The local health department notes that the oysters could have been contaminated when they reached the seafood stand, as there is no proof that the business did anything related to the contamination. Health authorities have embargoed all the remaining oysters to know where they are from.
Bacterial Infection
The man reportedly died after the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria infected him. Oysters and other kinds of shellfish can transport such bacteria. It can be found in coastal and warm waters, especially in summer.
Such bacteria do not affect the taste, smell, or look of the oyster, AP News reports. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vibriosis, which is the condition caused by the said bacteria, can surface after one eats undercooked or raw shellfish. Some species of Vibrio could also lead to a skin infection when an open wound comes into contact with brackish or salt water.
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus tend to manifest roughly 12 to 72 hours post-consumption. There are times, however, when it may take a week before the symptoms surface.
According to the CDC, most individuals dealing with mild vibriosis get better after three days without experiencing any lasting effects. However, others infected with Vibrio vulnificus may end up seriously ill, requiring intensive treatment or even limb amputation. Roughly one out of five individuals with the said infection end up dying. They may sometimes die within one or two days of getting ill.
Vibriosis symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, chills, and vomiting. Serious disease or death is considered rare and usually occurs among individuals who have weaker immune systems.
Doctors caution all who have eaten raw oysters and exhibit any symptoms to get checked immediately.
According to the St. Louis County Health Department, mortality rates linked to Vibrio vulnificus infections across the US lie at roughly 33%. The bacteria are responsible for over 95% of deaths related to seafood.
The CDC also estimates that vibriosis leads to roughly 80,000 illnesses annually across the US. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the most commonly reported vibrio species, is thought to lead to 45,000 illnesses yearly.
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