Dodgy mussels blamed for norovirus outbreak in Spain

Spain’s food safety agency has issued a red alert after at least 50 people were struck down with stomach bugs after eating frozen mussels from Galicia.

The Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN) issued an alert after 39 diners were affected by norovirus after eating mussels at a hotel in Javea, on the Valencian coast.

Another 12 cases were detected at another hotel up the coast in Gandia.

According to Valencia’s health department two people were affected so seriously that they required hospital treatment after eating dishes that included the contaminated frozen mussels.

A warning was issued for a batch of Estrella Polar brand of frozen packs of 12 cooked mussels by AECOSAN after health authorities found they contained traces of Norovirus GI and GII.

Those carrying the lot number: 010DOP-18 or 015DOP-18, with a manufacturing date of 01/19/18 (January 19, 2018) and a use by date of 1/2020 have been removed from shelves.

The product originating from Galicia was distributed across Spain.

The norovirus (also known as winter vomiting bug) causes diarrhoea and vomiting and easily spreads. It usually manifests between 24 -48 hours of being exposed to the virus and most people recover within one to three days.