70 gastroenteritis cases following oyster farm contamination

OYSTERS contaminated through contact with human faeces in an Irish oyster-harvesting site were responsible for 70 cases of gastroenteritis in Ireland and Britain earlier this year.

The contamination occurred in raw oysters supplied for direct consumption that had been harvested from Carlingford Lough by the Carlingford Oyster Company.

The source of the contamination was identified after oysters from two restaurants where people fell ill were sent for analysis and the level of norovirus (NoV) present was similar to that found in the oysters harvested from Carlingford Lough. The Carlingford Oyster Company had supplied oysters to both restaurants.