The fishing and consumption of shellfish from the commune of Bouin (Vendée) is prohibited because of the presence of norovirus, the prefecture announced on Friday 5 January, after several similar bans concerning oysters during the end-of-year celebrations.
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This ban follows a case of collective food-borne poisoning" after the consumption of shellfish from the Coupelasse area, in the commune of Bouin, "which led to digestive disorders in shellfish consumers, such as gastroenteritis," explains the Vendée prefecture in a statement.
Virus that causes gastroenteritis
The ban concerns "professional fishing, collection, transport, storage and marketing of shellfish," the prefecture said. It will be valid "until a satisfactory health situation is restored". In recent days, analyses have revealed the presence of norovirus, responsible for gastroenteritis, in Arcachon but also in Calvados, Manche and Vendée. This has led to temporary bans on the marketing of oysters, which are traditionally popular at Christmas and New Year.
According to the oyster farmers of Arcachon, the sanitation system of the banks of the basin, overwhelmed by the heavy rainfall of autumn, is to blame. The Association for the Defence of the Waters of the Arcachon Basin (Adeba) announced that it had filed a complaint on 29 December against the intercommunal syndicate in charge of sanitation. The prefect of Gironde is due to bring together the local authorities concerned next week to "accelerate" investments in wastewater management.