In December 2014 Washington State health officials issued an emergency closure for harvesting and ordered a recall for all shellfish originating from a portion of Mason County's Hammersley Inlet after several people who ate raw oysters became ill. A least a dozen people who ate raw oysters in November became ill with symptoms consistent with norovirus. Laboratory testing confirmed norovirus in 2 patients. Ill cases were reported in Oregon and Washington.

All shellfish from the noted area were recalled for the dates of November 1 to December 5, 2014. Shellfish included in the recall were sent to several states, including Oregon, Nevada, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, California, New York, Maine, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia.