Oyster Bay Harbor shellfish warning issued

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WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- U.S. officials say consumers should not eat shellfish identified as harvested in Oyster Bay Harbor, N.Y., June 1 and after.

Officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said consumers possessing shellfish for which the harvest area is not known should inquire of the retailer, restaurant or other facility about the source of shellfish.

"If the shellfish was already consumed and no one became ill, no action is needed," the FDA said in a statement. "However, if you develop a diarrheal illness within a week after consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, see your health care provider and inform the provider about this exposure."

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation prohibited the harvesting of shellfish from Oyster Bay Harbor in Nassau County on Long Island and advised establishments and consumers not to use shellfish from this harvest area.

Harvesting of shellfish from particular areas in the Town of Oyster Bay was temporarily prohibited due to an illness outbreak caused by naturally occurring marine bacteria in shellfish, DEC officials said.

"The DEC and the New York state Department of Health documented illnesses in three people who ate raw or partially cooked shellfish in Nassau County," DEC officials said. "The illnesses were associated with the consumption of shellfish or foods which were cross contaminated with raw shellfish."

An additional five illnesses were reported to DEC by three other states that received shellfish harvested in Oyster Bay Harbor, officials said.