More than 60 people across 22 states have been sickened by a salmonella outbreak linked to the consumption of raw oysters, prompting an investigation by federal health officials.
New Jersey and Virginia have each recorded six, while Florida, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia all have three or more cases.
Other states with one or two confirmed cases of Salmonella include Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Maryland, California, Connecticut, Delaware, and Texas.
No deaths have been reported to date. However, the CDC has warned that the actual number of cases may be higher and the outbreak may extend beyond the states with known infections.
"This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella," the agency said in its update. "In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak."
Symptoms, which can include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps, usually develop within a few hours to a week after exposure.
The agency urges anyone who experiences more severe symptoms, such as diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, to seek medical help right away.
State and local health officials managed to link the outbreak to the consumption of the mollusks after asking people what they had eaten the week before becoming ill. About 75 percent reported eating raw oysters, the CDC said.