ATLANTA (WTOC/WCSC) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 64 people across 22 states have been diagnosed with the same strain of Salmonella from eating raw oysters.
Three cases were in South Carolina, the agency reported.
People in this outbreak are reporting eating raw oysters, the CDC’s website states. The CDC and the FDA are working to determine if a common source of oysters can be identified.
No recall has been announced so far.
Prevention and symptoms
Health officials recommend cooking oysters before consuming to reduce the risk of food poisoning, as oysters can be contaminated with germs year-round. Hot sauce and lemon juice do not kill the germs, and germs are not visible on oysters.
Victims may experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
In some cases, the illness may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become severely sick. More information can be found on the official CDC website.
The CDC says people with questions about cases in a particular state should call their state’s health department.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health’s main number is 803-898-3300.
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