By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–In an ongoing effort to address the surge in oyster-linked illnesses, San Diego County health officials have widened their investigation to encompass additional oyster harvest sites in Mexico.
The move comes as part of an urgent recommendation urging consumers and restaurants to discard any oysters imported from Mexican locations until further notice.
The local norovirus outbreak has seen a rise, with a total of 69 confirmed and probable cases reported. However, the severity of infections within San Diego County remains mild, with no hospitalizations recorded thus far. The initial focus identified 41 probable and confirmed norovirus cases associated with oysters harvested in Sonora, Mexico. Patrons affected had consumed oysters at the Fish Shop chain and Carlsbad Aquafarm. Subsequent investigations have revealed an additional 28 cases, including 20 individuals who consumed oysters from different food venues.
Beyond San Diego County, oyster-associated norovirus cases have surfaced in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. The California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have now actively joined forces in the investigation.
The FDA, holding jurisdiction over imported oysters, initially issued an advisory on January 11, drawing on findings from the County health officials’ inquiry. On January 17, a second advisory was released for Laguna De Guerrero Negro and Laguna Manuela, both situated on the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico, geographically distant from Sonora. The FDA, in today’s update, expanded the initial advisory on Sonora oysters to include a second harvest location, Estero Morua.
The latest FDA recommendations advocate for restaurants and retailers to dispose of any remaining oysters or coordinate their return or destruction through distributors. Individuals with oysters at home are also advised to follow suit. Notably, all implicated oysters were harvested in December 2023, and no oysters from these locations have been distributed to San Diego food venues since then.
Given the growing number of harvest locations linked to illness and the potential involvement of other sites, County Public Health strongly recommends refraining from the consumption of all oysters imported from Mexico at present.
“The County recommends that people inquire about the oysters’ harvest location when dining out or obtaining food from wholesale locations to avoid consuming oysters imported from Mexico,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, deputy County Public Health officer.
Dr. Kadakia also stressed the importance of handwashing for those who become ill to prevent further spread.
Furthermore, the consumption of raw oysters has been associated with outbreaks involving various germs, including Vibrio, Shigella, E. coli, and norovirus. Consumers are urged to exercise caution, as germs present in raw or undercooked oysters can lead to illness.
Individuals experiencing symptoms are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider promptly. To report illness related to dining out or purchasing from wholesale food locations, residents can call (858) 505-6814 or email fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov.
