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Pennsylvania health officials identified a cluster of 27 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses linked to oysters harvested from Virginia’s Little Wicomico River; cases have been reported across 12 states, and some patients required hospitalization. The oyster company recalled affected harvests, stopped harvesting in the area, and Virginia temporarily closed the river to shellfish harvesting. The investigation is ongoing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has identified 27 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses linked to oysters harvested from Virginia’s Little Wicomico River, with patients reported across 12 states and some requiring hospitalization. Little Wicomico Oyster Company recalled oysters harvested from September 18 through October 8, while Virginia temporarily closed the affected area to shellfish harvesting.
The outbreak cluster is under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and state authorities. Pennsylvania identified the illnesses as associated with oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River or Little Wicomico River, Lower, by Little Wicomico Oyster Company, listed as VA-1421-SP. The available report does not give a breakdown of cases or hospitalizations by state.
The company recalled the affected harvests and said it had contacted customers. It has stopped harvesting from the affected area and is cooperating with public health officials. The Virginia Department of Health’s temporary shellfish-harvesting closure took effect on October 9, 2026.
The FDA advises restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell the recalled oysters and tells consumers not to eat them. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia; they may also have been distributed farther. Retailers and restaurants should discard the product or contact their distributor to arrange its destruction.
Recall Reaches Restaurants in 17 Areas
The recall covers oysters sent to businesses across a broad area, so the risk is not limited to people who live near the Virginia harvest site. Because products may have been distributed onward, retailers and restaurants should check their suppliers and consumers should avoid oysters matching the company and harvest dates, even if the shellfish looks and smells normal. Salmonella contamination does not necessarily change a food’s appearance, smell or taste.
The illness can be more serious for infants, children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The report says some patients required hospitalization, but does not specify how many. Identifying the source and removing affected product from sale are key steps to limit further exposure while investigators assess the outbreak.
Anyone who ate the recalled oysters and develops symptoms should seek medical care and tell the clinician about the possible Salmonella exposure. Special testing may be needed to diagnose salmonellosis, and symptoms can resemble other illnesses. People who become ill should follow medical advice and take care to avoid spreading infection to others.
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Harvest Dates and Safety Guidance
The recall is tied to oysters harvested from the Little Wicomico River and Little Wicomico River, Lower, between September 18 and October 8, 2026. The state closure followed on October 9. The report identifies the company’s Virginia shellfish permit number as VA-1421-SP, a detail that can help businesses confirm whether their stock is covered.
Salmonella symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, often beginning 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Healthy adults are commonly ill for four to seven days, according to the source material, though some cases can be severe enough to require hospitalization. Some infected people may have no symptoms and may still spread the bacteria.
The FDA said it was first notified of the Salmonella Telelkebir outbreak by the CDC and is continuing to work with the agency and assist state authorities as needed. The outbreak investigation concerns a specific Salmonella strain and the recalled oyster harvest; the source report does not describe other products as implicated.
“The company has stopped harvesting from the affected area and is cooperating with public health officials.”
— Little Wicomico Oyster Company, as described in the report
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Case Details Still Under Review
The reported total was 27 illnesses as of October 19, but the source does not provide the date when patients became ill, the date the outbreak investigation began, or a case count for each state. It also says some patients required hospitalization without specifying the number. No deaths are reported in the supplied material, but it does not explicitly state whether any have occurred.
Investigators have linked the illnesses to the named oyster harvests, but the report does not explain how the association was established, whether all cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing, or whether additional cases may be identified. It is also unclear how much recalled product remains in circulation or whether all downstream distributors and businesses have been reached.
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Investigation and Recall Follow-Up
The CDC, FDA and relevant state authorities are continuing to investigate the cluster and support state-level response work. The next public updates may clarify whether the case count has changed, how many patients were hospitalized and whether investigators have identified additional distribution locations or exposure details.
In the meantime, restaurants and retailers should check inventory and supplier records for Little Wicomico Oyster Company oysters harvested during the recall period, then discard them or arrange destruction through their distributor. Consumers should not eat oysters matching the recall information. The source material does not give an end date for Virginia’s temporary harvesting closure or say when harvesting might resume.
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Key Questions
How many illnesses have been linked to the oysters?
Officials reported 27 Salmonella Telelkebir illnesses as of October 19, 2026. Patients were spread across 12 states, and some required hospitalization; the number hospitalized was not specified.
Which oysters are covered by the recall?
The recall covers oysters from Little Wicomico Oyster Company, permit VA-1421-SP, harvested from the Little Wicomico River or Little Wicomico River, Lower, from September 18 through October 8, 2026.
What should restaurants, retailers and consumers do?
Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the recalled oysters and should discard them or contact their distributor to arrange destruction. Consumers should not eat oysters matching the company and harvest information.
What symptoms should people watch for?
Salmonella symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, often starting 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Anyone who ate the recalled oysters and becomes ill should seek medical care and mention the possible exposure.
Is the Little Wicomico River still closed to harvesting?
Virginia temporarily closed the affected river area to shellfish harvesting effective October 9, 2026. The report does not provide an end date or say when harvesting may resume.
Source: rss
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