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Be careful when eating shellfish
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, diners should be careful in consuming types of shellfish, especially during the summer months. A bacterium called Vibrio parahaemolyticus is frequently isolated from the estuarine and marine environment of the United States. Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic forms of the organism can be isolated from marine and estuarine environments and from fish and shellfish dwelling in these environments.
Infections with this organism have been associated with the consumption of raw, improperly cooked, or cooked, recontaminated fish and shellfish. A correlation exists between the probability of infection and warmer months of the year. Improper refrigeration of seafood contaminated with this organism will allow its proliferation, which increases the possibility of infection. Major outbreaks have occurred in the U.S. during the warmer months of the year. Sporadic cases occur along all coasts of the U.S. Diarrhea caused by this organism is usually selflimiting, with few cases requiring hospitalization and/or antibiotic treatment. All individuals who consume raw or improperly cooked fish and shellfish are susceptible to infection by this organism.
A good rule of thumb when eating shellfish is to observe the "'R' Rule," which means to consume raw shellfish only during months with "R" in them, excluding the hot summer months.
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