Overview
- Officials report 64 illnesses tied to the same Salmonella strain across 22 states, including about 20 hospitalizations and no deaths.
- Interviews with 27 patients show 74% ate raw oysters in the week before falling ill, pointing to a likely exposure route.
- The outbreak strain has been identified as Salmonella Telelkebir, a less commonly reported variant confirmed by federal labs.
- Cases date from late June with a concentration from late October to late November, and surveillance delays suggest the true count may be higher.
- CDC and FDA have not found a common oyster source or issued a recall, and consumers are advised to cook oysters since condiments do not kill germs.