July 26, 2024
Background
DMR was notified by Maine CDC of an illness outbreak on July 10th related to the consumption of raw oysters and exposure to Campylobacter coli, and immediately began investigating the source of the illness.
There was a total of six cases associated with this outbreak reported by Maine CDC and the last case was reported to DMR on July 15th.
The investigation by Maine DMR identified the source of the illness as two lease sites in Casco Bay which were closed on July 11th.
After confirming that no additional sites were implicated in the outbreak, a recall was initiated on July 17th for oysters harvested from those sites between June 19th and July 16th. Product recalled from dealers in Maine has been either recovered and destroyed or had already been consumed by the time of notification to DMR by Maine CDC.
At this time, no additional illnesses have been reported.
Campylobacter
People with Campylobacter illness usually have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea. These symptoms usually start 2 to 5 days after the person ingests Campylobacter bacteria and last about one week.
People most commonly get Campylobacter infection by eating raw or undercooked poultry. However, this outbreak is likely the result of contamination by birds of oysters grown in surface systems in the two implicated lease sites. DMR has since encouraged all lease and LPA holders who are cultivating oysters to submerge product for a minimum of seven days prior to bringing them to market in order to allow the bacteria to be fully purged.
Public Notification
FDA is responsible for public notification nationally of food borne illnesses and did so on July 25th.
DMR also seeks guidance from Maine CDC as to whether an outbreak warrants additional public notification within Maine. In this instance, it was determined quickly by CDC epidemiologists and DMR investigators that the source of the illness was oysters produced and consumed in Maine, and that DMR was able to rapidly identify the harvest location of those oysters, close the areas, and initiate a recall of product from those lease sites. Therefore, DMR felt the risk of additional illnesses occurring was contained, and additional public notification beyond what was issued to lease and LPA holders and certified shellfish dealers in Maine, was not warranted.
Consumer Safety
It's important to note that, while Maine DMR’ Public Health Bureau administers a robust program that complies with the National Shellfish Sanitation Program to ensure that shellfish harvested in Maine are safe for human consumption, per the Maine Food Code, consumers should be aware that eating raw or undercooked shellfish may increase the risk of foodborne illness.