The infections are linked to raw oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River in Virginia, the CDC said

NEED TO KNOW

• Twenty-seven illnesses and five hospitalizations prompted a CDC investigation into oysters harvested in Virginia
• Little Wicomico Oyster Company recalled oysters harvested between Sept. 18 and Oct. 8 and halted harvesting
• Officials are still investigating contamination as consumers are urged to discard recalled oysters and watch for symptoms

More than two dozen people have become sick amid a salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters.

On Monday, Oct. 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Food Safety Alert saying public health officials have launched an investigation after 27 people across 12 states have fallen ill, with five hospitalizations. 

The states include Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Indiana, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois and Iowa.

The infections are linked to raw oysters harvested by the Little Wicomico Oyster Company from the Little Wicomico River in Virginia, the CDC said.

On Oct. 9, the Little Wicomico Oyster Company voluntarily recalled oysters with harvest dates between Sept. 18 and Oct. 8 and notified its customers.

As precautionary measures, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) temporarily closed the harvest area and Little Wicomico Oyster Company has halted harvesting from the impacted area and is cooperating with officials.

According to the VDH, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) worked with states to perform a traceback to track down the source of the contaminated oysters.

Oysters consumed by those impacted were harvested from multiple locations, but oysters harvested by Little Wicomico Oyster Company were the only common source for the seven people included.

Lance Gregory, director of the VDH’s Office of Environmental Health Services, told PEOPLE on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that investigators were testing oysters from the Little Wicomico River to determine how they became contaminated.

“Please note, emergency closure and recall only involves one shellfish growing area in Virginia,” Gregory added. “VDH oversees more than 90 shellfish growing areas covering four major rivers and their tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay, and estuaries of the Atlantic Ocean. Shellfish products harvested from the other open Virginia growing areas and distributed by other Virginia shellfish dealers are not impacted by the emergency closure or recall.”

The CDC advises the public to throw out or return oysters impacted by the recall, and wash items and surfaces that may have touched them with hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Those who have already consumed oysters contaminated with salmonella should call their healthcare provider immediately if they experience diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F, diarrhea for more than two days that is not improving, bloody diarrhea or so much vomiting that they can’t keep liquids down.

Symptoms of salmonella typically begin between six hours and six days after consuming the bacteria. While most people recover without treatment, children under 5, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness.

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