Friday August 10, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- The Food and Drug Administration Friday issued a warning to advise consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from an area of the southern tip of Hood canal in Washington after an outbreak of Vibriosis - a food-borne illness.

Raw oysters harvested from growing area 6 in Hood Canal from July 3, 2007 have sickened at least six people in California and Washington.   The states are investigating more reports of the illness.

Vibriosis is caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria, which can be found occasionally in oysters in the summer.   The bacteria wouldn't do too much harm to most people, but in rare cases can it be life-threatening to those with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms including watery diarrhea, often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills can show up 24 hours of ingesting the bacteria and last a few days, according to the FDA.

The raw oysters from the affected area were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia ( Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, the FDA says in its statement.

The Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) August 3 announced the closure of shellfish beaches in Mason County from Miller Creek (north of Hoodsport) south and east to Sunset Beach and across to Stimson Creek.   Closed were also Potlatch and Twanoh state parks.

The state agency has already asked the commercial oyster harvesters and dealers to recall the raw oysters tainted with Vibrio bacteria.

The FDA says consumers should check with the store where oysters were purchased to see if they were harvested from the affected area.

"Those with weakened immune systems such as people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorder, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease should always avoid raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested," the FDA states.

The WSDH says in its August 3 press release "The best way to prevent this illness is to cook your oysters during the warm summer months."   The Vibrio bacteria can be killed when oysters are cooked at 145 F.

Some consumers eat uncooked oysters, believing the nutrients may be maximally preserved that way.   Some believe oysters boost sexuality in males because of high levels of zinc, which is important to the male reproduction system.