Bad oysters from B.C. could be making Ontarians sick

Ontario's acting Chief Medical Officer of Health iswarning that two dozen cases of gastrointestinal illness may belinked to oysters from British Columbia.

Dr. David McKeown says there have been 24 cases ofgastrointestinal illness since January consistent with norovirus inpeople who reported eating raw or undercooked oysters.

McKeown says cooking oysters at an internal temperature of 90degrees Celsius for a minimum of 90 seconds should eliminatenorovirus and other potentially harmful microorganisms.

Foodborne outbreaks of norovirus can occur when food iscontaminated with the virus. Health officials say shellfish such asoysters can become contaminated from the water before they areharvested.

The common symptoms of gastrointestinal illness are nausea,vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps which will last one to twodays in healthy people.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms after eating oysters is urgedto contact a doctor.