Eat Pacific Northwest oysters with caution, FDA warns

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumers should avoid eating raw oysters harvested from the Pacific Northwest, U.S. health officials warned on Monday after reports of stomach illnesses linked to bacterial contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said a growing number of people, mostly in Washington state, have reported getting sick after eating oysters tainted with the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacterium.

More than 70 people in Washington have been infected, according to the state's Department of Health. Some consumers in New York have also reported falling ill from the oysters, which are shipped nationwide, the FDA added.

The infection can cause diarrhea, cramps and nausea in healthy people, but those who are older or have poor immune systems are at risk for more serious problems such as a blood infection.

Authorities in Washington state have recalled oysters harvested in affected areas. The state typically receives 20 reported cases each year, officials have said.

The FDA, which called this year's growing number of cases "unusual," urged consumers to fully cook all oysters before eating them. People should not buy oysters that have already been opened and should throw away any that do not open during cooking, it added.