Daily Q&A: How concerned should I be about oyster warnings?

How concerned should I be about the federal warning regarding oysters?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control issued a warning Dec. 6 about oysters harvested from the San Antonio Bay on or after Nov. 16 due to reports of norovirus-associated illnesses in some people.

Reports of illness at this time have come only from Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Federal authorities also made these general suggestions to all consumers regarding oyster consumption:

Persons with weakened immune systems, including those affected by AIDS, and persons with chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes or kidney disease should avoid raw oyster consumption altogether, regardless of where the oysters are harvested.

Here's a link to the FDA warning: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm193129.htm.