Ten recent hospital admissions and numerous accounts of gastrointestinal illness are thought to be caused by conch poisoning, contracted by eating improperly stored or prepared molluscs - raw conch is a popular local dish. The agency charged with food safety noted that ‘conch poisoning is commonly caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium found in the ocean that can be present on raw conch if not washed off properly with fresh, running water’. Investigations are continuing into the source of the infections. Read more
Advice for travellers
Read more about Vibrio parahaemolyticus from SA Health.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.