Vancouver Coastal Health says restaurants are now required to cook oysters harvested in BC, and only oysters from outside of the province can be served raw.
There’s been an ongoing outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness associated with eating raw oysters from BC. The illness is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria that thrives in warm water.
Closer to home in the Comox Valley, Island Health MHO Dr Paul Hasselback says they’re telling restaurants to warn customers about the issue.
Doctor Hasselback says regardless of the recent outbreak, ultimately it is best to cook shellfish..
Hasselback says Island Health has received 15 reports of people getting sick from eating raw oysters, and Vancouver Coastal Health says 31 cases have been reported so far.
