CDPH Warns of Possible Norovirus Infections from Raw Oysters Imported from British Columbia, Canada ​

December 17, 2024

SN24-023

What You Need To Know: CDPH is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from certain areas in British Columbia, Canada because they may be linked to an outbreak of norovirus illnesses in California. These oysters were sold at restaurants and venues in multiple California counties. 

Sacramento – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from certain areas in British Columbia, Canada because they may be contaminated with norovirus, which can cause serious gastrointestinal illness.  

As of December 12, 2024, 57 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus have been reported among people who ate raw oysters from British Columbia while dining at several restaurants in California. People have reported becoming sick between December 1 through 9, 2024. 

Investigation by the CDPH and local public health partners have identified raw oysters that were harvested from certain harvest areas in British Columbia in late November and early December 2024 as the likely source of illness. No recalls have occurred at this time; however, several distributors have already voluntarily withdrawn oysters from identified harvest areas from the market. Harvest dates suggest that these oysters are still within their shelf life and may still be available at retail locations. CDPH is working closely with local public health departments, California shellfish distributors, and federal partners to remove the implicated oysters from places where they may be sold.

What Californians Can Do  

Restaurants and retailers can protect customers by checking their inventory and shellfish labels, ensuring that potentially contaminated raw oysters are not available for sale, and discarding any leftover contaminated products. Oysters with tags from the following landfile numbers are of concern:  

• BC 14-8, Landfiles: 1402193, 1402293, 1413888  
• BC 15-4, Landfiles: 2401247, 2401505  

The Pacific oysters may be marketed as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, or Royal Miyagi Oysters.   

Anyone who becomes ill after eating raw oysters should contact their health care provider and report their illness to their local health department.  

To reduce your risk of illness, especially if you are susceptible to severe disease or have underlying medical conditions, people should avoid eating raw and undercooked shellfish, including oysters. If you eat shellfish, cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Quick steaming isn't sufficient to kill norovirus. 

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus and can be spread easily from person-to-person, through contaminated surfaces and by eating contaminated food, including raw or undercooked oysters. Common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Symptoms of norovirus usually begin 12 to 48 hours after a person has come in contact with the virus and can last up to 3 days. People who develop symptoms of norovirus infection should consult their health care providers. For more information on norovirus, please see CDPH’s Norovirus webpage.   

The most current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines are available at CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Shellfish Advisories webpage.  ​