Raw Oyster Illnesses Rise; Cooking Urged

The number of people sickened after eating raw oysters from Galveston Bay has risen to 300, state officials said. The bulk of the illnesses have been in Texas, but outbreaks have been reported in Tennessee and Florida, said health officials, who have confirmed that 41 of the illnesses were caused by the bacterium vibrio parahaemolyticus. Symptoms of vibrio parahaemolyticus include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, vomiting and headaches. The illness usually lasts as long as a week and is rarely fatal. Harvesting of Galveston Bay oysters has been halted since June 1. Some are still on the market, so consumers are encouraged to cook them thoroughly.