Over 300 with Norovirus linked to British Columbia Raw Oysters

Multiple recalls of British Columbia oysters since mid-March.  Illness in Canada began mid-January.  Illnesses in both Seattle and Minnesota began in mid-March. 279 with Norovirus in Canada, 29 with Norovirus in Minnesota and 27 with Norovirus in Seattle.  Minnesota health officials announced that they are working with “federal officials and public health agencies in other states and Canada to investigate Norovirus illnesses associated with oysters.”

Norovirus illnesses linked to raw oysters from British Columbia have been increasing since mid-January with the spike to 279 happening in the last few days according to Canada health authorities.  As of March 30, 2022, there have been 279 cases of norovirus and gastrointestinal illness linked to consumption of B.C. oysters reported in the following provinces: B.C. (262), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (1), and Ontario (15). Individuals became sick between mid-January and late March 2022, and no deaths have been reported. Although not all cases of illness have been tested, testing of several cases has confirmed the presence of a norovirus infection.

Canada health authorities began announcing recalls in mid-February with the last recall announced yesterday.

• February 18, 2022
• March 20, 2022
• March 23, 2022
• March 27, 2022
• March 27, 2022
• March 31, 2022

The Minnesota Department of Health, Hennepin County Public Health, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are working with federal officials and public health agencies in other states and Canada to investigate norovirus illnesses associated with oysters harvested from Bay 14-8 in British Columbia.

Twenty-nine Minnesotans have been sickened in this outbreak. They became ill with confirmed or suspected norovirus gastroenteritis after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen in Robbinsdale on March 20. The oysters served were Stellar Bay Gold oysters harvested on March 10 from Deep Bay 14-8 CLF #140706 in British Columbia, Canada.  This harvest area is listed in the about recall notices.

Seattle Public Health routinely reports illnesses to Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Shellfish Program, which is responsible for tracking the harvest locations of the oysters implicated in these illnesses. Multiple illnesses tracked to a common growing area may result in the closure of implicated harvest locations or other enforcement actions. To date, the below 27  illnesses have not been linked to the Canadian oysters and recalls.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.