By PSA Newsroom Staff
Health officials are investigating a Salmonella outbreak that may be connected to eating raw oysters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is looking into dozens of reported illnesses across multiple states to find out if contaminated oysters are the source.
Local oyster producers in Charleston say they follow strict safety monitoring and that serious illnesses from properly regulated oysters are rare. The CDC has not yet confirmed a direct link or issued a recall, and the investigation remains active.
Salmonella refers to a group of bacteria that can cause food poisoning (salmonellosis) when someone eats contaminated food or water. These bacteria live in the intestines of animals and people and can spread through contaminated food — including meat, eggs, produce, or shellfish like oysters. If a person becomes infected, common symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
More severe cases can lead to dehydration and require medical care, especially for young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.
Key public health advice (from CDC):
- Raw oysters can carry harmful bacteria and should be cooked thoroughly to reduce risk.
- You cannot tell if seafood is contaminated just by looking at it.
