Overview
- At least 64 illnesses in 22 states have been linked to the same Salmonella strain associated with raw oysters, including 20 hospitalizations and no deaths.
- The CDC and FDA are tracing supply chains and conducting interviews and genomic analysis to identify a harvest area or distributor, and no recall has been issued.
- Reported cases are concentrated in the Northeast, with notable counts in Pennsylvania and New York, and additional cases confirmed in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Texas and South Carolina.
- Health authorities warn totals are likely higher than reported because confirmations take weeks, and they emphasize that appearance, smell, hot sauce or lemon do not make raw oysters safe.
- South Carolina growers criticize the federal announcement as premature, while state officials say the three infected residents reported eating raw oysters during travel outside the state.