The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and state and local partners, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Norovirus illnesses that are linked to oysters.
What is the Problem and What is being Done About It?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with federal, state, and local officials regarding a norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from British Columbia, Canada. The FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, were distributed to CA, IL, MA, and WA. It is possible that additional states received these oysters either directly from Canada or through further distribution within the U.S.
FDA and the states are conducting a traceforward investigation to determine where the raw oysters were distributed and ensure they’re removed from the food supply. Retailers should not serve raw oysters harvested from the following harvest locations (or landfiles) within Baynes Sound: #1402060, #1411206, #1400483, and #278757.
Oysters can cause food-related illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with noroviruses may look, smell, and taste normal.
Public Health Notice — Ongoing outbreak of norovirus and gastrointestinal illnesses linked to raw oysters
April 27, 2018 – Update
This notice has been updated to include additional cases of illness associated with this outbreak. In the last week, the Public Health Agency of Canada has seen a decrease in the number of cases being reported to the outbreak investigation team which indicates the outbreak may be slowing. The outbreak investigation remains active and findings to date have identified that most people who became sick were infected after consuming oysters that were harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia. The investigation into a specific source of contamination impacting the shellfish farms in that area is ongoing.
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