Emergency shellfish harvest closure declared for Drayton Harbor

Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) issued an emergency closure for recreational and commercial molluscan shellfish harvesting in Drayton Harbor on January 7, citing an outbreak of illnesses.

WCHCS said multiple people became ill after eating raw shellfish harvested in Drayton Harbor on December 28 and December 30, 2024.

Those who became sick reported a norovirus-like illness within one to two days after consuming raw oysters, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fatigue, according to WCHCS.

“Raw shellfish consumption dramatically increases illness risk,” the WCHCS press release stated. “Norovirus and some bacterial pathogens may be present in raw shellfish. Similar outbreaks have been reported recently from several growing areas in Puget Sound and British Columbia.”

WCHCS recommends cooking all shellfish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit before consumption, and advises shellfish harvesters to check biotoxin levels and pollution closures at fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html or by calling the state Department of Health Biotoxin Hotline at 800/562-5632 prior to harvesting shellfish.