Two people are dead and twenty-eight (28) have been admitted to hospital in an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to meats sliced at deli counters, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A total of twenty-eight confirmed outbreak cases have been reported so far by twelve states, including: Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Maryland (6), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (2), New York (7), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (2), and Wisconsin (1).
The two deaths occurred in Illinois and New Jersey.
Sixteen out of eighteen people (89%) interviewed by public health officials reported eating meats sliced at a deli, most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham. Meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is working to identify the suppliers of deli meats, sliced at deli counters, purchased by people in this outbreak.
The CDC warns that the number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.
What consumers need to know.
CDC advises people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system to contact their healthcare provider if they have any Listeria symptoms. Additionally, CDC advises people to take steps to protect themselves from getting Listeria from deli meats by avoiding eating meats sliced at the deli unless they are heated before eating.
- Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
- Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
- People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
- Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
- For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
- For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
eFoodAlert 