In August 2016 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff investigated an outbreak of Vibrio cholera. The first report of illness in a 43 year old woman was received on August 20. Her stool specimen yielded V. cholera, serogroup 01, serotype Inaba. Her husband was also ill with similar symptoms. They had no recent travel but had consumed ceviche made with raw shrimp and raw oysters at a restaurant on August 14. MDH sanitarians obtained patron contact information and credit card receipts for August 12-14. Two additional patrons reported gastrointestinal symptoms consisted with vibriosis. One reported eating the shrimp and oyster ceviche. MDH reviewed the agency foodborne illness complaint hotline and identified two more probable cases who reported eating at the restaurant on August 2.

MDH sanitarians visited the restaurant and obtained tags and invoices for oyster and shrimp products. Oysters were a product of the US. The shrimp was a product of India. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture facilitated sampling of shrimp at the distributor from the same lots served at the restaurant August 14, and most likely between August 2-13. Shrimp samples yielded Vibrio cholera non-01, non-0139 but V. cholera O1 was not isolated.