{"id":1413,"date":"2026-06-11T15:36:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T15:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1413"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:36:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T15:36:25","slug":"vibrio-bacteria-caused-a-death-in-nc-last-year-is-it-safe-to-eat-raw-oysters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1413","title":{"rendered":"Vibrio bacteria caused a death in NC last year. Is it safe to eat raw oysters?"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s very nearly summer in the Carolinas, which means many things: Cheerwine, alligators, sunburn, seafood \u2014 and Vibrio infections<\/a> from natural bacteria found in coastal waters.<\/p>\n

Read more Wings, mattresses or something else: What should go in Soul Gastrolounge\u2019s old building?<\/a><\/p>\n

A Vibrio infection, which can cause a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, nausea, skin lesions and even death, can come from eating raw or undercooked seafood.<\/p>\n

Seafood lovers often disagree about when and if it is safe to eat raw oysters, so the Charlotte Observer asked an expert.<\/p>\n

State Public Health Veterinarian Carl Williams<\/a> said that overall, it is not recommended anyone eat raw or undercooked oysters.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Oysters) are filter feeders, so whatever is in the water, they will accumulate, and obviously, if the water is clean and doesn\u2019t have any pathogen in it, then there\u2019s not going to be any problems,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to eat them raw, you\u2019re definitely going to have a higher likelihood of developing some type of foodborne illness. I mean, you might not, but the odds are going to be greater if you eat them raw.\u201d<\/p>\n

North Carolina has seen an uptick in Vibrio bacteria infections, including 135 cases last year<\/a>, one of which resulted in death. Vibrio bacteria are naturally occurring in salt and brackish water. There are over 200 species of Vibrio. One form, Vibrio Vulnificus, kills one in five infected patients through necrotizing fasciitis.<\/a><\/p>\n

People can get Vibrio by eating raw or undercooked seafood or exposing an open wound to brackish water or seafood drippings. The Center for Disease Control estimates that out of 80,000 vibriosis cases yearly, 52,000 are from eating contaminated foods.<\/p>\n

The CDC also recommends against eating raw oysters<\/a> in large part due to Vibrio infections. There is no way to tell by looking at an oyster whether it contains Vibrio.<\/p>\n

Read more Tom Brady \u2018struck a nerve\u2019 with Carolina Panthers star CB. It\u2019s easy to see why<\/a><\/p>\n

Oysters are also frequently tied to outbreaks of salmonella and norovirus. The CDC documented a salmonella outbreak tied to raw oysters<\/a> in March 2026 that hospitalized 34 people in 23 states. The FDA advised people to avoid shellfish from Gomez Shellfish LLC<\/a> in Washington due to norovirus in April 2026.<\/p>\n

Williams said that Shigella has also been linked to raw oyster consumption.<\/p>\n

The CDC notes that common oyster toppings lemon juice and hot sauce do not kill bacteria in raw oysters. Neither does consuming alcohol with the shellfish. You can also get sick from eating oysters harvested during any month of the year, though Vibrio infections are more common in summer.<\/p>\n

Williams said that while it is not recommended, people will choose to eat raw oysters anyway. But some people are at significantly higher risk of illness and even death.<\/p>\n

At high risk from Vibrio, according to the CDC, are people:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly wouldn\u2019t, I don\u2019t recommend anybody eat raw oysters, but if you\u2019re in those risk categories, you should really think hard about it. I would argue it\u2019s not worth it, but that\u2019s an individual decision,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n

Williams also said that age can be a factor. Children and older adults should avoid raw shellfish.<\/p>\n

People should also be careful not to go into brackish water with open wounds, Williams said, especially those with preexisting conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of these Vibrio, they\u2019re normal flora in the water, they\u2019re supposed to be there,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThe problem is they can also make us sick, so you just need to make sure that when you have an open wound that\u2019s exposed to brackish water that it\u2019s cleaned afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more NC lawmakers pitch new bill banning use of hemp and kratom for everyone under 21<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vibrio bacteria in brackish water can contaminate oysters. Read expert advice for Carolinians and which high-risk groups should avoid raw seafood and shellfish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nVibrio bacteria caused a death in NC last year. 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