« Newport Folk Festival kicks off tonight | Today | Leader of anti-casino group resigns »

August 4, 2006

Dangerous bacteria found in Conimicut shellfish

WARWICK -- The state Department of Health has discovered a dangerous bacteria in the water and inside some shellfish found in Conimicut Point, according to an announcement released today.

The health department was alerted to the area after someone complained of being infected with Vibrio vulnificus, a natural bacteria that can cause severe illness if eaten in raw or undercooked shellfish. People can also become infected through exposure of an open wound to contaminated seawater or shellfish, according to the health department.

State officials are testing shellfish and water in the upper Bay, from Greenwich Bay to Providence, and in some inlets and coastal ponds such as Ninigret Pond and Great Salt Pond. They encourage people to cook shellfish thoroughly to avoid infection.

In healthy people, Vibrio vulnificus infection causes symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

But certain individuals -- such as people with liver disease, blood disorders, cancer and diabetes -- are at higher risk for contracting severe infection and life-threatening illness because the bacteria can invade the bloodstream.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 5:02 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)