ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — The CDC has reported that 64 people across 22 states have been diagnosed with the same strain of Salmonella from eating raw oysters. Of the 22 states, Georgia is one of them.

The data:

• State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the different foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 27 people interviewed, 20 (74%) reported eating raw oysters.
• CDC and FDA are working to determine if a common source of oysters can be identified.
• No recall has been announced at this time.

How to prevent Salmonella:

• Cook oysters before consuming to reduce the risk of food poisoning, as oysters can be contaminated with germs year-round.
• Know that hot sauce and lemon juice do NOT kill the germs.
• Note that germs are not visible on oysters.

About Salmonella:

• Individuals may experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria.
• The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
• In some cases, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized.
• Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severely sick.

The CDC says if you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department. The Georgia Department of Health’s contact number is (404) 657-2700.

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