RICHMOND—Effective October 9, out of an abundance of caution and in conformance with recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the waters in the Little Wicomico River in Northumberland County are closed to the harvesting of oysters and clams due to a link to a salmonella outbreak in Pennsylvania.
VDH recently was notified of a salmonella outbreak in Pennsylvania that has been epidemiologically linked to shellfish harvested from this area, reported Eastern Region public information officer Stephanie Hudson. VDH is conducting testing of shellfish in the implicated area.
The temporary emergency closure is effective through November 7. The affected shellfish are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks, including oysters and clams, but not crabs or finfish.
The closure of the Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting has no impact on drinking water, said Hudson.
Meanwhile, VDH on October 9 also closed a portion of Lower Machodoc Creek in Westmoreland County to shellfish harvesting through October 29. due to a sewage release. These waters may be contaminated with pollutants such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses, said Hudson.
Shellfish taken from the area affected by the emergency closure on Lower Machodoc Creek are unacceptable for consumption, she said. Eating shellfish taken from the closed areas at VDH closes two Northern Neck waterways to shellfish harvesting this time could cause gastrointestinal illnesses including norovirus, hepatitis A and shigellosis.
VDH urges the public to rinse or wash items that come into contact with the water, including fishing gear, life vests, ropes and paddles, to minimize exposure to contaminants, she said.
The affected shellfish for both waterway closures are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks, including oysters and clams, but not crabs or finfish. For maps of the shellfish closure areas, visit vdh.virginia.gov.
