The Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN) reported Friday (computer translated) on a norovirus outbreak linked to the consumption of mussels of Galician origin in the Valencian Community.

Image/mp1746 via pixabay
Image/mp1746 via pixabay

Officials say 39 people have been affected by the outbreak.

The implicated product details are as follows:

  • Product: frozen cooked mussel of Galician origin.
  • Product name on the label: Super shell half mussel
  • Brand: Polar Star
  • Lot: 010DOP-18
  • Preferential use date: 1/2020
  • Manufacturing date: 01/19/18

As part of the epidemiological investigation conducted by the competent authorities, three stool samples were taken from affected people, detecting the presence of norovirus. In addition, a sample of the suspect product (cooked mussel) from a box of the same batch and supplier revealed the presence of Norovirus GI and GII.

The Health Authorities of Galicia confirmed that the products involved in this outbreak have been distributed to the following Autonomous Communities: Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Basque Country, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia Navarra and Valencia, as well as Italy and Portugal.

As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that those who may have the aforementioned product in their homes that abstain from consuming it.

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

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The symptoms include nauseavomitingdiarrhea, 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.