CHICAGO (WGN) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning after dozens of people across the country became sick in a salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters.
According to the CDC, 64 people in 22 states have been infected with the same strain of salmonella. At least 20 people have been hospitalized, a rate higher than usually seen in outbreaks traced to oysters. No deaths have been reported thus far.
Of the 27 people health officials have spoken to, 20 reported eating raw oysters in the week before becoming ill.
Here’s where cases have been reported:
- Pennsylvania: 10 cases
- New York: 7 cases
- New Jersey: 6 cases
- Virginia: 6 cases
- Georgia: 4 cases
- Arizona: 3 cases
- Colorado: 3 cases
- Florida: 3 cases
- Massachusetts: 3 cases
- South Carolina: 3 cases
- California: 2 cases
- Connecticut: 2 cases
- Delaware: 2 cases
- Texas: 2 cases
- Illinois: 1 case
- Kentucky: 1 case
- Maine: 1 case
- Missouri: 1 case
- North Carolina: 1 case
- South Dakota: 1 case
- Tennessee: 1 case
- Maryland: 1 case
While the CDC has described this as an outbreak, neither the CDC or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have determined if the illnesses are connected to a common source of oysters. No recall has been initiated as of Wednesday morning.
Regardless of where you get raw oysters from, the CDC says they can be contaminated with germs and should be fully cooked. You can’t tell whether oysters are contaminated simply by looking at them, and hot sauce and lemon juice do not serve as effective methods of killing off any germs.
What is salmonella?
It’s caused by the salmonella bacteria, which the CDC estimates causes 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. yearly.
Infections are commonly associated with diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. Symptoms can begin between six hours and six days after you’ve ingested the bacteria. Most people can recover without receiving treatment within four to seven days.
Some cases of salmonella poisoning can become severe and require hospitalization.
Illnesses may be more severe for young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Some may require medical treatment or hospitalization, the CDC explains. Infections can only be diagnosed with a laboratory test of a person’s stool, body tissue or fluids.