2 Florida Residents Die From Bacterial Infection After Eating Raw Oysters

Two Florida residents died weeks apart due to a bacterial infection after consuming raw oysters. In both cases, the oysters came from Louisiana.

One of them had visited a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, called Rustic Inn Crabhouse, in July. The Florida Department of Health confirmed it was investigating a person's death linked to the restaurant, NBC 6 reported.

Authorities believe the infection was caused by the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, predominantly found in raw or undercooked seafood like oysters. However, the department didn't reveal how the man got infected.

The manager of the restaurant, Gary Oreal, told NBC 6 that the man was an employee at the food joint 20 years back and he visited the business with his family on July 20. A complaint was filed with the health department eight days after the visit.

The manager claimed it was sheer misfortune as the man was the only one who fell sick even though the restaurant served as many as 100 dozens of oysters the same day. The restaurant maintained that it received no comlaints about people falling sick after consuming oysters served there. It also hung a sign warning people about the risks of eating raw oysters.

"He had that one in a billion that was bad," said Oreal. "I feel horrible."

Oreal said food inspectors visited their kitchen last month but found nothing objectionable.

The second person, who was from Pensacola County, died early this month, according to Pensacola News-Journal. In his case too, the oysters were from Louisiana.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said oysters don't look, taste or smell different if they contain Vibrio. The agency noted the bacterial infection mostly happen during the summer months of May to October.

Florida health department data shows 26 people have become infected after eating raw shellfish, including oysters, so far this year. Six of them later died.