Two dead in Listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis.
Twenty-eight people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 12 states (New York-7, Maryland-6, 2 each in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia and one each in Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin).
All 28 people have been hospitalized and two deaths have been reported, one from Illinois and one from New Jersey.
One person got sick during their pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering.
In interviews with sick people, 16 of 18 (89%) reported eating meats sliced at deli counters- most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham. Meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis. The investigation is ongoing to determine which deli meat may be contaminated. Officials do not have information to show that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats.
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.
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Listeria can cause severe illness (known as invasive listeriosis) when the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body.
Pregnant women typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threating infection of the newborn.
Women who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Symptoms of severe illness usually start 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after.