In a follow-up to a report on a norovirus outbreak in Canada linked to British Columbia oysters, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported this week the case count has climbed to 221 as of Tuesday.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

The cases have been reported in the following three provinces: British Columbia (159), Alberta (36), and Ontario (26). No deaths have been reported. Individuals became sick between December 2016 and February 2017. All individuals who became ill reported having eaten oysters.

While the national investigation is ongoing, public health partners in these provinces have linked cases to the consumption of oysters from British Columbia.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that often goes by other names, such as viral gastroenteritisstomach flu, and food poisoning.

The symptoms include nausea,vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever,chills,headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people, the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days.

In general, children experience more vomiting than adults do.

Norovirus is spread person to person particularly in crowded, closed places. Norovirus is typically spread through contaminated food and water, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth and close contact with someone who is vomiting or has diarrhea.

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