Australia: Coffin Bay oyster crisis continues

SA Health on Friday initiated a full recall of the Coffin Bay delicacy after 56 people contracted Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) from eating the region’s oysters. The disease can cause gastro, nausea, vomiting and fever, with symptoms usually present within 24 hours of eating the contaminated food. The recall covers all oysters sold from the Coffin Bay region from September 4 to November 16. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions also last week shut down oyster harvesting and production at Coffin Bay to give officials an opportunity to trace back recent VP cases. South Australian Oyster Growers Assocaition Chair Rob Kerin said the recall and shutdown is “likely to cost the industry millions of dollars” and will “sadly result in some producers being forced to close their business”. “We fully support a public safety-first approach and back the decision of SA Health to issue the recall, but it will be a further blow for the industry, which has weathered a number of very tough ...