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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The Gulf States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are working to affect reduction in Vibrio vulnificus disease associated with the consumption of raw oysters. Although there are many similarities in their approaches, there are also notable differences. All the states implement the ISSC recommended procedures for controlling shellstock temperatures to retard growth of Vibrio vulnificus in the shellstock following harvest. Several of the states have gone beyond the ISSC's recommendations. Alabama has limited the harvest of oysters to a time period of six hours during the warm weather months of June, July and August. Florida has a similar approach in which oysters must be placed under refrigeration with 6 hours of harvest. Mississippi requires all harvesters to shade their oyster shellstock May 1 through September 30 and dealers to place the shellstock under refrigeration immediately following its receipt.Florida, which is the source of a many of the Vibrio vulnificus cases, has had an aggressive program for several years which began by targeting the general public and has evolved into a more targeted program directed at the at-risk consumer, and the medical community which provides their care. Mississippi, which has had no Vibrio vulnificus cases associated with its oysters, is actively pursuing the education of the at-risk consumer. Both Texas and Florida participated in an ISSC sponsored pilot directed to at-risk consumers and their care givers.