Raw oysters cause salmonella outbreak ravaging US, CDC warns

If you want to start 2026 off right, it might be a good idea to avoid raw oysters for now. Health officials have linked an ongoing situation Salmonella epidemic to popular seafood.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 64 people in 22 states have been sickened by the same outbreak bacterial strain, and nearly two dozen have been hospitalized. Although a common source of transmission has not yet been identified, the majority of those surveyed reported eating raw oysters shortly before their illness began.

“Epidemiological data show that oysters can be contaminated by Salmonella and can make people sick in this outbreak,” the CDC declared in its update published last week.

Worse than it seems

There are several different types of Salmonella bacteria which can cause illness in people, although the symptoms tend to be similar and gastrointestinal in nature. These include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. The disease usually disappears within a few days and without the need for antibiotic treatment. But in rare cases, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause life-threatening complications like meningitis or sepsis.

A strain of Salmonella Telelkebir is the origin of the current epidemic. The first known cases date back to June 2025, while the last were reported in November 2025. So far, twenty people have been hospitalized, but none have died.

It can take up to a week for symptoms to appear after exposure and three to four weeks before a case is identified as part of the same outbreak, so the actual toll is likely much worse than documented.

“The actual number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses,” the CDC said. “Indeed, many people recover without medical care and do not undergo screening tests. Salmonella.”

State and local health officials questioned sick people about their recent diet, and raw oysters emerged as the likely cause of the outbreak. Of the 27 cases surveyed so far, three-quarters reported eating raw oysters in the week before their illness.

The only positive side is that the epidemic strain of Salmonella does not appear to be drug resistant, meaning that conventional antibiotics should help prevent or treat serious infections.

What to do

The CDC notes that raw oysters can pose a potential contamination threat at any time of year. And Salmonella Isn’t it the only germ that likes to live in oysters? food can also to carry foodborne infections such as hepatitis A, Vibrio bacteria and norovirus.

As a result, health authorities generally recommend avoiding raw oysters and clams altogether — advice that’s all the more useful today, given the current outbreak.

“Cook oysters before eating them to reduce your risk of food poisoning,” the CDC said.