Oysters Recalled; 187 People Made Ill

Another 59 people were identified as suffering illnesses related to eating bad raw oysters harvested from Galveston Bay. Texas public health officials in Galveston said the toll had reached 187 people. All had eaten raw oysters. Fishermen who lease state-controlled oyster beds have agreed to stop harvesting from Galveston Bay and recall in-the-shell oysters taken from seven of the bay’s 43 commercial lease sites. Health authorities blame the illnesses on a bacterium called Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is killed by thorough cooking. Symptoms from the ailment include diarrhea, nausea and fever.