FDA issues outbreak alert for Canadian oysters

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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 California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington. It is possible that additional states received these oysters either directly from Canada or through further distribution within the United States.

FDA issues outbreak alert for Canadian oysters

Currently, a total of 172 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to oyster consumption have been reported in three Canadian provinces: British Columbia (132), Alberta (15), and Ontario (25). No deaths have been reported. Individuals became sick between mid-March and mid-April 2018. Most individuals who became sick reported eating raw oysters from the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia before the onset of their illness. Although not all cases of illness have been tested, testing of several cases has confirmed the presence of a norovirus infection. It is suspected that norovirus illness caused by the consumption of contaminated oysters is the cause of illness in the untested cases.

The FDA and U.S. states are conducting a trace-forward investigation to determine where the raw oysters were distributed and ensure they’re removed from the food supply.

FDA outbreak alert

Canada public health notice