MACAO, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities say the total number of food poisoning cases tied to raw oysters in Macao has risen by eight to 149.
The Special Administration Region's Disease Control and Prevention Center of the Health Bureau said eight additional cases in the food poisoning outbreak had been reported by Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua, China's official government-run news agency, reported Tuesday.
The health authorities said all of the cases have been tied to "problem raw oysters" eaten at buffet restaurants in the Sands Hotel, Venetian Hotel, Golden Dragon Hotel and the Macao Tower between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2.
They said the oysters, which were provided to distributors by a Hong Kong supplier, Pearlwin Ltd., are believed to have been carrying the Norwalk virus, which can be spread through food.
One distributor said the oysters were not meant to be served raw.
"The oysters were hard-frozen and must be cooked for consumption. I do not understand how people could sell it as fresh chilled oysters to Macao," a spokesman for the distributor said.
