NC Man David Argay Dies After Consuming Wilmington Oysters ‘Harmful Bacteria’ Identified

CARY, NC. (THECOUNT) — David Argay has been identified as the Cary, North Carolina man who died in a hospital after contracting the harmful Vibrio bacteria from eating oysters on the North Carolina coast, according to family.

Argay, 50, reportedly contracted vibrio in Wilmington but died Thursday at WakeMed Hospital.

Vibrio is a bacteria that live in saltwater. There are 200 recognized species of marine vibrios but only a few can cause significant problems.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, vibrio infections are associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters, clams, shrimp and scallops, reports ABC11.

It’s unclear when or what restaurant Argay consumed the tainted oysters.

Health officials say these types of infections can be prevented by thoroughly cooking seafood or shellfish especially oysters and not exposing open wounds to seawater. Most infections occur from May through October when water temperatures are warmer.

The CDC reports vibrio causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths a year in the United States.

According to social media, Argay was originally Clifton Park, New York.

Geo quick facts: Cary is the seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina. Cary is predominantly in Wake County, with a small area in Chatham County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the county’s second-largest – wikipedia.