An outbreak of norovirus has shut down three oyster beds in Louisiana — the largest oyster harvest shutdown in the state in a decade. Despite the shutdown, state health officials still aren’t sure if oysters are a problem. The sickness isn’t fatal in most circumstances, but it will make you extremely uncomfortable.
“We’re not seeing deadly illness but we’re seeing illness of upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea,” said state health official Dr. Jimmy Guidry. Dr. Guidry said even though they have linked dozens of illnesses to the eating of oysters, they still haven’t determined if it’s in the oyster beds, or if the virus came from somewhere else. “Is it in the oyster, is it in the individual serving the oysters?” said Guidry. “Those are the questions that are difficult to answer.”