The study of food samples is still in progress, but some patient samples have already been completed. So far, seven people have tested positive for the norovirus associated with this outbreak.
Those who ate oysters are advised to contact environmental services and provide information for the ongoing investigation.
A report on the outbreak will be prepared for the Food Agency and the Institute of Health and Welfare. A written explanation of the situation will be sent to all known relevant persons.
Those who suspect they have become ill from eating food from a restaurant or store are encouraged to fill out a food poisoning report online at https://ilppa.fi.
If a food industry operator receives a report of food poisoning from a customer, he has a legal obligation to notify the local food control authority immediately. Reports must be made at https://ilppa.fi.
Oysters are considered a risky food product
Food poisoning studies related to oysters are conducted annually. Eating raw oysters is always a risk, although not all oysters are contaminated. Oysters feed on seawater and can pick up norovirus from human waste. Rapid heating may not be enough to destroy the virus, as it requires heating to +90 degrees Celsius for two minutes to kill it.
Restaurants cannot detect norovirus in oysters, and the virus can spread rapidly in households and other social settings.
The environmental services continue to cooperate with the Epidemiological Unit of Helsinki to investigate the epidemic.
HT
Source: The Nordic Page