Objective To find out the distribution of serotype and virulence genes in the Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from foodborne disease outbreaks and also the main ribotype of these strains. Methods Ninety eight Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from the patients of monitoring points in 27 foodborne disease outbreaks. Diplex-PCR was used to detect tdh and trh gene. Ribotyping was carried out in the Riboprinter system. Results The isolates from 27 outbreak points were distributed in 11 serotypes and 5 ribotypes. The dominant serotype was O3:K6, and the main ribotype was vp-EcorI-002. All strains carried toxR gene, 97 strains carried tdh gene and only 1 strain carried trh gene. Conclusion Most strains in the study were pandemic and toxigenic, and a closer evolution relationship was observed between serotype O3:K6 and serotype O5:K68, O1:K25 and O11:K36.