Earlier this month, a large group gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate The Los Angeles Times’ list of the 101 best restaurants. On the menu were raw oysters, typically a celebratory delicacy, but in this case, anything but. As ABC News reports, at least 80 people got sickened with norovirus linked to the shellfish. Said oysters, along with Manila clams, have since been recalled by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, as they could be contaminated with the virus.
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What is norovirus?
Norovirus is very contagious and causes gastrointestinal sickness. It is “the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After exposure, symptoms usually develop within 24 to 48 hours and most commonly include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms are fever, headache, and body aches. Because norovirus can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting multiple times per day, dehydration is a common side effect.