The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for oysters and clams harvested in Drayton Harbor due to possible contamination with Norovirus.
Officials said the shellfish were harvested between Feb. 13 and March 3 and distributed to retailers in several states, including Oregon, Washington and California.
Potentially contaminated Manila clams were harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council and shipped to multiple states. Raw oysters were harvested by the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and distributed within Washington.
Health officials in Whatcom County reported that several people became ill after eating raw oysters from the harbor. County food safety supervisor Tom Kunesh said the oyster company quickly halted sales of the potentially affected products.
Authorities noted that distributors have contacted retailers and believe most of the shellfish may already have been consumed.
The Washington State Department of Health has closed Drayton Harbor to all recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting until at least March 24 as a precaution.
According to the FDA, norovirus-contaminated shellfish can cause symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. Symptoms typically develop within 12 to 48 hours after eating contaminated food and most people recover within one to three days.
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