Shellfish warning in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island health officials want businesses to avoid selling or using shellfish harvested from the town of Oyster Bay in New York because of an illness caused by naturally occurring marine bacteria in shellfish.

The state Department of Health says authorities in New York state have temporarily banned harvesting of shellfish from Oyster Bay after three people who ate raw or partially cooked shellfish in Nassau County became ill. Five additional people became ill in three other states that received shellfish harvested in the area.

Lab tests showed the man had vibrio parahaemolyticus (VIBB'-reeoh pare-ah-HYE'-mo-LITT'-icuss), an illness that can cause headache and upset stomach.

Rhode Island health official say food establishments should check tags on any shellfish that they sell to consumers or use in food preparations to avoid using products from Oyster Bay.