Spokane man ill from raw oysters

A Spokane man who ate raw oysters has contracted vibriosis, a bacterial illness that has sickened nearly 100 people across Washington, health officials said Tuesday.

The man is likely the first local case in the outbreak that has shuttered many state oyster growing areas and forced a recall of possibly tainted shellfish.

A doctor confirmed the gastrointestinal illness and reported it to the Spokane Regional Health District, spokeswoman Julie Graham said Tuesday. Few details, however, were available about the afflicted person or the circumstances of his illness, she said.

Other local people might be affected, but it would be hard to confirm unless they reported eating raw oysters, Graham added. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting, which are common to other illnesses as well.

As of Monday, 97 cases of vibriosis had been reported to the Washington State Department of Health, with 61 cases confirmed through testing. That’s about five times the number of cases typically reported in a year, health officials said.

Warmer-than-average temperatures and lower-than-average afternoon tides have contributed to the outbreak, officials said.

The high number of illnesses has prompted closure of all recreational beaches and commercial oyster growing areas in Hood Canal, Samish Bay, Oakland Bay, Mystery Bay, Skookum Inlet, Totten Inlet and Eld Inlet. More than 75 state growing areas remain open, however.

In addition, officials recalled all oysters in the shell harvested after July 13 from closed growing areas. Closed areas will reopen when two consecutive oyster samples do not contain the bacteria.

Vibriosis is caused by naturally occurring bacteria. It is not associated with cooked oysters. Heating the shellfish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit kills the bacteria and renders the oysters safe to eat.

The best way for people to avoid illness is to not eat raw oysters for now, officials said.

For more information, go to www.doh.wa.gov and visit the “In the News” area of the Web site.