According to the latest data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been more than 58 cases of listeria outbreak in the United States, including eight deaths. This is the largest outbreak of listeriosis since the incident involving cantaloupe in 2011.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacterial infection that can occur in moist environments, soil, water, rotting vegetation, and animals. It can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation methods. When people eat contaminated food, they may develop a disease called listeriosis.
symptoms
Symptoms can vary depending on the person and the part of the body affected. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of balance, stiff neck, and seizures. In some cases, it can take up to 10 weeks for listeriosis symptoms to appear.
Who is at risk?
Listeria most often affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. While other people can become infected with listeria, they rarely become seriously ill.
Prevention
Listeria is a hardy bacterium that can be spread through food. Certain foods are more likely to be contaminated with Listeria, such as soft cheeses, raw milk, deli meats, prepared meats, pâtés, cold-smoked fish, sprouts, and melons.
To prevent infection, it is important to clean the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards, and countertops. Hands should be washed with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid certain foods, including unpasteurized or raw milk, cheese made from unpasteurized milk, raw fish, raw sprouts, and certain other raw foods.
People who keep pets must be especially careful to avoid cross-contamination when preparing food for their pets.
Diagnosis
Listeria infection is usually diagnosed when laboratory testing detects Listeria in a sample of body fluids or tissues from a sick person.
Treatment
Treatment varies depending on the type and severity of the disease. Antibiotic therapy is the best treatment for invasive listeriosis.
