Maine officials report outbreak of Campylobacter infections traced to oysters

An outbreak of Campylobacter infections has spurred the Food and Drug Administration to issue a public warning.

The warning is for recalled oysters from Maine, which are sold under the Recompense Cove brand. The oysters were harvested between June 19 and July 16 from harvest areas CAS RC2 and CAS RCX.

On July 11, the Maine Department of Marine Resources notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about an outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses traced to the oysters. The FDA has not reported the number of sick people or where they live.

The implicated oysters were distributed to restaurants and food retailers in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Ontario, Canada. 

The FDA warns that restaurant and retail operators should be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow these steps:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
• Retailers that have sold bulk products should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
• Regular, frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food-contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

About campylobacter infections
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Campylobacter outbreaks have been associated with seafood, unpasteurized dairy products, contaminated water, poultry, and produce. People can also become infected from contact with dog or cat feces. Person-to-person spread of Campylobacter is uncommon.

Anyone who has eaten oysters from the specific harvest areas listed in the FDA warning and developed symptoms of Campylobacter should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about their exposure. Specific tests are required to diagnose Campylobacter infection because symptoms can mimic other illnesses.

Many people recover in a week, but Campylobacter infection can result in long-term consequences, such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Azithromycin and fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, are commonly used for treatment, but resistance to fluoroquinolones is common.

Campylobacter infection symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and are characterized by diarrhea (frequently bloody), abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. More severe illnesses can occur, including bloodstream infection and symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis or ulcerative colitis.

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