A deadly listeria outbreak in deli meats that was first reported in July and had led to multiple hospitalizations in several U.S. states as of Tuesday could lead to more illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At least 57 people have been hospitalized and nine have died in 18 states since the C.D.C. first reported the disease on July 19. The cases now include nine deaths in South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York.
The United States national public health agency has confirmed that this is the largest outbreak since the listeriosis outbreak linked to melons in 2011.
The agency urged citizens to take extreme caution regarding this outbreak, saying, “Everyone should check their homes for any remaining recalled Boar’s Head products as they may last a long time. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612″ inside the USDA inspection mark on the product label. Some products have a sell-by date as late as October 2024.”
Listeria Infection: Symptoms, Sources
According to the CDC, listeria is a hardy germ that can live on surfaces like meat scraps and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. In some people, it can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms of listeriosis to appear.
When Listeria bacteria spread beyond the intestine to other parts of the body, it can cause serious illness (known as invasive listeriosis).
Pregnant women usually only experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening complications for the newborn.
Those who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and cramps, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Symptoms of severe illness usually begin 1 to 4 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but symptoms can begin anywhere from the same day to up to 70 days later.
Prevention:
- Do not eat the recalled deli products. Throw them away or contact the store to return them.
- People who are at higher risk of getting sick from listeria, such as those who are pregnant, age 65 or older, or who have a weakened immune system, should always avoid eating meat cut at the deli counter unless it is heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steam ceases to escape just before serving.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that have come into contact with sliced deli meats.
- Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of listeria and you recently ate sliced meat at the deli counter.
- Businesses that received the recalled meats should take additional precautions such as cleaning and sanitizing and discarding open cuts of meat and cheese in the deli. Businesses should also follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.