The Department of Health will reopen both oyster Harvest Area 7 and oyster Harvest Area 3 this week. Area 7 will reopen at sunrise Thursday, April 15, 2010, while Area 3 will reopen at sunrise Friday, April 16, 2010. LDH closed the beds on March 24th and 25th, respectively, due to a Norovirus outbreak linked to oysters from the areas.
Area 7 is located in Plaquemines parish waters, on the east side of the Mississippi river, while area 3 is located in St. Bernard parish waters. Testing by LDH has determined molluscan shellfish growing waters in harvest areas 3 and 7 are suitable for harvest of oysters.
LDH will continue to monitor conditions in the shellfish growing areas. Water standards for oyster harvesting areas are set by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference and can be found at www.issc.org. LDH has the authority to open and close these waters under LSA-R.S. 40:5,3.
The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about LDH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.
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