Raw Oysters, Clams Can Be Deadly To Some People Any Time Of Year
For many seafood lovers, cooler weather signals oyster season, steaming bowls of clam chowder and faith in the old wives' saying that you should eat raw oysters only in months with names that contain the letter "r" (September through April).
The old wives did have a point back when refrigeration and food handling werenıt what they are today. Raw shellfish fans were less likely to eat spoiled oysters and clams in the cooler, "r" months.
For some people, however, the old wives' advice was misleading and could prove deadly. For those in certain high-risk groups, thereıs no safe time to consume raw oysters.
For these people, eating raw or undercooked oysters or clams can cause serious illness and even death from a bacterium called Vibrio vulnificus. So far this year, the Florida Department of Health has investigated six cases of Vibrio vulnificus from eating oysters; two victims died. Another 28 cases may have been caused by seawater contamination of open wounds, causing another six deaths.
According to Dr. Robert South, an epidemiologist with the Lee County Health Department, so far this year Lee County has had no cases. The last reported Vibrio vulnificus cases in our county were in 2003, when two people died. Regarding safety, South said: "Properly prepared
oysters,
clams and mussels (meaning steamed, fried or thoroughly cooked) destroys
the vulnificus bacteria, and there's no risk of infection. Properly
cooked, it poses a danger to no one." SEAWATER DANGEROUS TOO
Any oysters harvested along Gulf shore states may contain Vibrio, including waters approved for oyster and clam harvesting. South added, "Because the bacterium is naturally present in marine environments, it doesnıt alter the appearance, taste or odor of the oyster or clam."
Among healthy people, ingestion of V. vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. It can also cause an infection of the skin when open wounds are exposed to warm seawater; these infections may lead to skin breakdown and ulceration.
But in high-risk individuals, Vibrio vulnificus infection can lead to death within two days. Between 1989 and 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 149 serious illnesses resulting in 75 deaths from this bacterial infection.
These conditions put people at high risk:
- Liver disease
- Alcoholism
- Diabetes
- AIDS or HIV infection
- Gastric disorders
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Cancer (including lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkinıs disease)
- Hemochromatosis/hemosiderosis (abnormal iron metabolism)
- Steroid dependency (as used for conditions such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.)
- Any illness or medical treatment which results in a compromised immune system.
A recent study showed that people with these medical conditions were 80 times more likely to develop V. vulnificus bloodstream infections than were healthy people. Older adults are more likely to have one or more of the above conditions, and should be aware of their health status before eating raw oysters or clams.
