Why should some people avoid eating raw oysters?
About 20 million American eat raw oysters. However, for some people, eating raw oysters can cause serious illness or even death. Vibrio vulnificus a bacterium that occurs naturally in marine waters and is commonly found in Gulf of Mexico oysters. While not a threat to most healthy people, Vibrio vulnificus can cause sudden chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, blood poisoning, and death within two days in people with certain medical conditions. Forty percent of Vibrio vulnificus infections from raw oyster consumption are fatal. The bacteria are not a result of pollution, so, although oysters should always be obtained from reputable sources, eating oysters from “clean” waters or in reputable restaurants with high turnover does not provide protection. Eating raw oysters with hot sauce or while drinking alcohol does not kill the bacteria, either.
