Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety says it has received notification from the Department of Health of Washington State in the United States that oysters harvested from Hood Canal might have been connected with some cases of vibriosis in California.

Vibrosis is caused by a naturally occurring bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.

The Washington State Department of Health is recalling oysters from the Hood Canal 6 growing area harvested between July 3 and August 3 this year. A CFS spokesman has appealed to the trade not to sell and the public not to eat this batch of oysters.

According to the US authorities, the concerned oysters might have been exported to Hong Kong.