Oysters linked to a salmonella outbreak were sent to Texas. That is what the FDA says in its Monday, Oct. 19 update. At least 27 people in 12 states have gotten sick. Five of them went to the hospital, the CDC says. No one has died.

A Virginia company has recalled the oysters. The firm is Little Wicomico Oyster Company. A recall means the company pulls the food back. The CDC says the firm pulled them back on Oct. 9. The oysters came from the Little Wicomico River. They were taken out of the water from Sept. 18 through Oct. 8.

The FDA says they went to restaurants and stores in Texas, California, Colorado and Connecticut. The list also has Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland. It has Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey and Nevada. It ends with New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The FDA says the oysters "may have been further distributed." That means they may have gone to other places too.

The notices do not say which Texas restaurants or stores got them. The CDC's list of states with sick people does not include Texas. Pennsylvania has the most sick people, with eight. New York has four. Virginia has three.

The CDC says the real number is likely higher. It says "the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported." Many people get better without a doctor. So they never get tested.

Here is what the dates show. The CDC's timeline says the first illness began on May 29. The last one it counted began on Sept. 14. The first recalled oysters came out of the water on Sept. 18. So all of the illnesses it counted began before the recall dates. The recall is meant to stop new illnesses. The CDC says it can take 3 to 4 weeks to link a sick person to an outbreak. More cases may still be added.

The germ is called Salmonella Telelkebir. The FDA says Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture found the outbreak. The state linked the sick people to oysters from this company. Virginia closed the Little Wicomico River to shellfish harvesting on Oct. 9. The state's closure notice says it lasts through Nov. 7. The CDC says oysters from other parts of Virginia are not in this recall.

What should you do? The FDA gives clear advice. Do not eat, sell or serve the recalled oysters. Restaurants and stores should toss them or call their distributor. Clean any surface or container the oysters touched. The CDC says to use hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

The FDA says food with salmonella may look, smell and taste normal. You cannot tell by checking.

Did you eat one of these oysters? Do you feel sick? Call your health care provider. The CDC says to call right away if you have a fever over 102 degrees. Call if diarrhea lasts more than two days. Call if it is bloody. Call if you vomit so much that you cannot keep liquids down. Call if you feel dizzy when you stand up. Call if you pee very little.

Signs of illness are diarrhea, fever and belly cramps. The FDA says they usually start 12 to 72 hours after you eat bad food. The CDC says they can start anywhere from 6 hours to 6 days. They usually last four to seven days. The FDA says some people are more likely to get very sick. They are children younger than five and older adults. They also include people with weak immune systems.

This germ is not rare. The CDC says it causes about 1.35 million infections in the U.S. each year.

Do you have questions about the recall? A Virginia health department notice lists the company's phone as 804-436-5671.

The CDC says the case is still open.