03/17/04
Reported in the Galveston Daily News 3/18/04

La Marque The Galveston County Health District reports that the cause of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that occurred among attendees of a conference in Galveston during late February has been identified as raw oysters contaminated by a pathogen known as Norovirus.

Most of the 47 people had consumed raw oysters at a catered dinner on February 27th and became ill that same weekend.

Norovirus was detected in stool specimens from two cases. This virus has been implicated in numerous other outbreaks, usually in connection with raw foods, particularly raw or undercooked seafood. “In many cases we are unable to determine the cause of an outbreak, but in this case we were able to do so due to rapid reporting and investigating,” states Chuck Chambers, Epidemiologist with the Galveston County Health District. “Most people will recover from a Norovirus infection within a few days but may experience symptoms which can be severe. Good hygiene, especially hand washing, is important in preventing the spread of this type of illness.”

“I recommend that persons with diabetes, cancer, chronic liver conditions or weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw oysters,” says Dr. Mark Guidry, M.D., M.P.H., Galveston County Health Authority. “All individuals should think twice before consuming raw oysters or other raw seafood.”

Oysters sold for raw consumption are harvested from areas approved by the Seafood Safety Division of the Texas Department of Health. This division works to protect the consumer of oysters, clams, mussels, scallops and crab meat from disease or other health hazards posed by their consumption. Seafood safety is monitored by testing tissue samples from fish and seafood harvesting areas. A portion of Galveston bay is currently closed to oyster harvesting due to the findings of this investigation. Another recent small outbreak reported to the Health District involved four cases and contaminated raw oysters have also been identified as the likely cause.

The investigation has been directly handled by the Galveston County Health District with assistance from Texas Department of Health, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Determining the cause of this outbreak benefited greatly from the early reporting of illnesses and contact information submitted by members of the National Trooper Coalition and a rapid investigative response by Health District personnel.

For more information on gastroenteritis consumers may visit the following web site: www.tdh.state.tx.us/ideas/gastroenteritis/factsheet/

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org

Read the original health advisory