Illnesses Linked to Venezuela Crab Meat: FDA

by WebMD July 16, 2018

July 16, 2018 — There have been 12 reported cases of people in the U.S. becoming sick after eating fresh crab meat from Venezuela, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The agency said the illnesses were caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria and advised people to avoid eating fresh crab meat from Venezuela, CNN reported.

Illnesses began between April 1 and July 3, with eight cases in Maryland, two in Louisiana and one each in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Four people had to be hospitalized, the FDA said.

“Most people infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus develop diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea, fever and stomach pain,” according to the agency.

Health officials said people dining out or buying crab meat at a grocery should ask where it came from, and should throw away any crab meat of unknown origin, CNN reported.

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