Timeline: Salmonella Telelkebir Outbreak Linked to Little Wicomico Oysters
 |
| Oyster cages in the Little Wicomico River ( Photo via M. Smith) |
Multiple federal and state agencies are investigating a multistate Salmonella Telelkebir outbreak linked to oysters harvested by the Little Wicomico Oyster Company from the Little Wicomico River, which is now subject to a shellfish closure.
“Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that oysters harvested by the Little Wicomico Oyster Company from Little Wicomico River harvest area made people sick in this outbreak,” said the CDC.
Virginia Dept. of Health (VDH) said, “Based on data collected to date, consumption of raw oysters from a single Virginia harvest area (Little Wicomico River) is the likely source for illnesses in this genomic subcluster.”
Here’s how the story has unfolded so far:
May 29:
The first known illness associated with the current Salmonella Telelkebir outbreak occurred.
July:
The only three known Virginia cases at that point occurred. VDH reported that the cases were geographically dispersed across the state.
Late August:
The Division of Shellfish Sanitation and Waterborne Hazards (DSSWH) received its first case report that potentially implicated Virginia-harvested oysters. DSSWH began monitoring Salmonella cases.
October 6:
The last known illness currently identified in the CDC's outbreak investigation occurred.
 |
| National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease |
October 7:
DSSWH reported being contacted by the FDA, which recommended an emergency closure in response to federal authorities' concerns.
The FDA's outreach followed notification of a Salmonella Telelkebir outbreak in Pennsylvania that had been epidemiologically linked to shellfish harvested from the Little Wicomico River.
October 9:
Little Wicomico Oyster Company worked with VDH to issue a voluntary recall of shellstock oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River between September 18 and October 8.
VDH also established an emergency shellfish condemnation area covering a large portion of the Little Wicomico River, prohibiting the harvesting of shellfish from the affected area.
October 13:
VDH collected 400 oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company cages in the Little Wicomico River. Eight composite samples were submitted for laboratory testing. Salmonella was detected in the samples, which were subsequently sent for genetic sequencing to determine whether the bacteria matched the strain responsible for the human illnesses.
October 19:
The FDA and CDC issued their first major public updates, reporting 27 cases across 12 states associated with the Salmonella Telelkebir outbreak. Five people had been hospitalized, with no deaths reported.
.png) |
| National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease |
The CDC also reported that Pennsylvania authorities had detected Salmonella in oysters supplied by Little Wicomico Oyster Company and harvested from the Little Wicomico River. Those samples were submitted for genetic sequencing.
October 21–22:
VDH collected another 400 oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company cages for a second round of Salmonella testing. On October 22, VDH also collected environmental samples to investigate potential fecal contamination.
October 30:
VDH released genetic sequencing results from the October 13 oyster collection. Testing confirmed that Little Wicomico Oyster Company oysters contained the Salmonella Telelkebir strain. The testing also identified two additional Salmonella strains: Newport and Hartford.
Laboratory results from the October 21 oyster collection detected Salmonella in samples from three of the company's four leases. Whole-genome sequencing was being conducted to determine whether those samples contained the outbreak-associated strain.
The CDC issued another public update, reporting the three Salmonella strains identified by Virginia authorities, as well as a fourth strain, Salmonella Litchfield, detected by Pennsylvania authorities.
The CDC also reported one additional case and one additional affected state, bringing the outbreak total to 28 cases across 13 states, with five hospitalizations and no deaths reported.
BOOKMARK THIS PAGE for new developments!!
.jpg)
