The United States, St. Louis County Public Health Department disclosed the death of a 54-year-old Missouri man, from the consumption of raw seafood. In this instance, the person ingested raw oysters contaminated with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria.
This resulted in his tragic passing on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The Missourian authorities conducted a thorough investigation, which revealed that the individual, whose identity remains unknown, died after consuming raw oysters from a restaurant named “The Fruit Stand & Seafood” located in the suburb of Manchester, Missouri.
The Public Health Department revealed further details of the case, on Friday, June 9, 2023. According to its investigation, the illness caused the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is severe, and it is responsible for more than 95% of seafood related deaths in the United States. Officials in charge of the case embargoed all oysters at The Fruit Stand & Seafood, and they also advised previous buyers to get rid of the oysters as soon as possible. In addition, they stated that:
V. vulnificus can be found in warm, coastal waters, usually during the summer months, and it is the most likely of all Vibrio bacteria to cause severe illness. It can also infect open wounds if they’re exposed to contaminated water, but doesn’t spread from person to person.
In spite of the previous events, the Health Department and the authorities affirmed that there is no evidence suggesting that the food establishment itself contaminated the oysters, as they could have potentially been contaminated before the restaurant received them. Nevertheless, The St. Louis County Public Health Department continues doing an investigation to determine the exact origin of the infected oysters. They have set up different preventive measurements to prevent further spread and deaths caused by eating the oysters infected with the V.vulnificus bacteria.