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- At least 64 people in 22 states have been sickened in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters, per the CDC.<\/li>\n
- 20 hospitalizations have been reported so far, but no deaths.<\/li>\n
- Health officials urge consumers to cook oysters before eating and watch for symptoms like fever and diarrhea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nThere’s one New Year’s Eve appetizer you’ll probably want to skip this year.<\/p>\n
Federal health officials are investigating a multi-state Salmonella outbreak<\/a> that’s left at least 64 people sick and 20 hospitalized, according to the CDC. The suspected culprit? Oysters served raw across 22 states.<\/p>\n
Reported illnesses date back to late June, stretching through November, but the outbreak<\/a> alert went public this week after health agencies linked several cases to the same strain of Salmonella Telelkebir<\/em>. No deaths have been reported, though the CDC notes the true number of sick people is likely higher since many recover without testing.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\nCDC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n So far, infections have been confirmed<\/a> from California to Maine, with the highest numbers in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. Of the patients interviewed<\/a>, nearly three-quarters said they ate raw oysters in the week before falling ill\u2014an unusually high percentage compared to how often people normally eat them, which all but seals the deal for oysters being the source.<\/p>\n
Officials haven\u2019t yet pinpointed a specific distributor or harvest region, but the CDC and FDA are continuing to track supply chains and lab results. In the meantime, the agencies remind seafood lovers that no amount of lemon juice, hot sauce, or wishful thinking kills bacteria in raw shellfish.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\nCDC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Their advice is simple: cook your oysters thoroughly, <\/strong>boil or bake them until their shells open, and avoid letting raw juices touch other foods. Anyone experiencing diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, or dehydration after eating oysters should contact a healthcare provider and report their illness to local health departments.<\/p>\n
We all know how appetizing a cold platter of oysters might look, but right now, maybe skip the raw bar and stick to shrimp cocktail. Your stomach will thank you.<\/p>\n