Certain oysters have been recalled in three Canadian provinces following a suspected outbreak of norovirus in British Columbia, which left dozens of people sick.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the recall on Saturday for several lots of Fanny Bay, Sunseeker and Cloudy Bay oysters sold by Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC.
The recall covers Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
“The affected products are being recalled from the market due to possible norovirus contamination,” the CFIA said.
According to the recall, most of the affected oysters were harvested and processed in early December, although some may have been harvested as early as November 27.
The CFIA said it is conducting a food safety investigation, which could lead to the recall of other products.
Canadians are urged not to consume the recalled oysters and throw them away or return them to the place where they were purchased.
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Those who become ill after eating the recalled oysters should seek medical attention.
The reminder comes after Dozens of people in British Columbia recently became ill after eating raw oysters.
The BC Center for Disease Control Thursday posted a warning that between November 1 and December 18, 64 cases of “norovirus” gastrointestinal illnesses were reported in the province after people ate raw oysters from local restaurants and retailers.
Some people went to emergency rooms with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting or stomach pain, but no hospitalizations were reported, health authorities said.
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause stomach problems like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramps. They are spread easily through contact with the stool or vomit of infected people.
Some foods can also be contaminated from the start, such as oysters, which can contract the virus in sewage before being harvested, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Symptoms of norovirus can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure, but can take 24 to 48 hours to develop, the CFIA said.
The agency says that while most people who contract the virus recover within a few days, some severe cases may require hospitalization and intravenous injections.
–with files from Katie Dangerfield of Global News and The Canadian Press
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