South Shore Oyster Beds Closed Over Possible Bacteria Contamination
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts health and fishery officials have closed several oyster beds on the South Shore because of potential bacteria contamination.
The agencies said Friday that oysters from the areas have been linked to three cases of an illness linked to bacteria known as Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
The closed beds are in Plymouth Harbor, Kingston Bay, Duxbury Bay, Bluefish River and Back River in the towns of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury and Marshfield.
The bacteria commonly cause diarrhea, and are found naturally in warm sea water.
The health department said there have been 50 confirmed cases since the end of May, compared with 27 during the same period last year. Most of the cases have been linked to eating raw oysters harvested in Massachusetts. Some are connected with out-of-state oysters or improper food handling.
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