Health officials are sending out a warning due to an increase in cases of norovirus, all of which are associated with consuming raw B.C. oysters.
Around 40 cases of the virus have been reported in the province since early March 2018.
Federal authorities have closed two oyster farms in the area between Denman Island and Vancouver Island thought to be involved in the outbreak.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is asking consumers of raw shellfish to take precaution.
They recommend cooking the oysters thoroughly to an internal temperature of 90 degrees Celsius in order to kill the virus.
The source of the illness has yet to be confirmed. The BCCDC says the most likely cause of contamination is from human sewage in the ocean.
Thirteen oyster farms in B.C. were closed last year due to an outbreak of norovirus. Nearly 350 cases were reported in B.C., Alberta and Ontario starting in late 2016 and into early 2017. The outbreak was declared over in April 2017.
Norovirus is a stomach bugthat causessymptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
Anyone experiencing symptomsof the virus after eating shellfish should call BC Healthlink at 811.
With files from The Canadian Press.
