A serious European alert has been activated after nine people were poisoned with norovirus in Tarragona after eating contaminated razor clams

At least nine individuals in Tarragona have experienced acute gastroenteritis after consuming undercooked razor clams contaminated with norovirus. This incident prompted health authorities to issue a European food alert and initiate measures to locate and withdraw the affected products. The alert, communicated by Spain on October 28 through the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), indicates the presence of norovirus genotypes GI and GII in frozen razor clams from Spain. The alert is classified as serious risk, leading to the market withdrawal of the contaminated clams. Noroviruses cause gastroenteritis, primarily affecting children, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. While symptoms appear suddenly and typically resolve within one to two days, dehydration remains a significant concern, especially for vulnerable populations.