MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Beware of uncooked shellfish

Chile's Health minister Pedro García called on the population to abstain from consuming uncooked sea food because of the possible resurgence of the para-hemolytic vibrion which last year intoxicated 10,000 people.

Mr. García admitted fears that the contamination this season could be even worse.

"It looks as if this year again we will be having the para-hemolytic vibrion along the Chilean coastline. There's nothing indicating that the water temperature could change from last year and in the coming summer months, as temperature increases we are bound to have an outbreak or the presence of the bacteria", highlighted the minister.

According to local reports the increase in Chilean sea water temperature has become a signal of alert, making it a nursing ground for the para-hemolytic vibrion.

Children at schools have already been warned about the risks and consequences of consuming non cooked sea food and particularly shellfish.

A full fledged national radio and television campaign has been planned for the critical thirty days extending from December 15 to January 15.

Supermarkets, stores, restaurants, catering places are scheduled to distribute leaflets on the symptoms of the contamination and ways to prevent it.