CDC reports Listeria outbreak linked to deli meats has led to deaths, learn more about foodborne illness

Updated on July 20, 2024, 08:07 IST

Listeria infection has led to the death of two people in 12 states in the US. The infection has been reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Read on to learn more about the infection, its symptoms, causes and more.

CDC reports Listeria outbreak linked to deli meats has led to deaths

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two people have died from a listeria outbreak in 12 U.S. states. This outbreak is likely linked to sliced meats. The agency also said a total of 28 people have been infected and hospitalized with the illness as of Friday in an outbreak that began in May.

The infection has been reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. The two deaths were reported in Illinois and New Jersey.

A report in NBC News said that people who got sick told state and local officials that they had eaten “various types of meat cut in delis” in the month before they got sick. Officials also spoke to 18 people and 16 of them said they had eaten meat cut in delis, with turkey, liverwurst and ham being the most common foods they ate.

CDC said: “This information suggests that meat cut in the deli is a likely source of this outbreak. However, at this time CDC does not have enough information to say which deli is the source of this outbreak.”

CDC also reported that the number of people infected during the outbreak may be higher than reported because some people recover from the infection without medical care.

What’s Listeria infection?

Also known as listeriosis, this is a foodborne illness. Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis and is commonly found in soil, groundwater, decaying vegetation, and animal feces (poo). Most people become infected by eating contaminated food. It usually takes one to two weeks for symptoms to appear, but in some cases it can take a few days or up to three months.

The infection can be fatal for pregnant women, people over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Healthy people rarely get sick, but the disease can be fatal for unborn babies, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of Listeria Infection

Below are some common symptoms of a listeria infection.

Fever
shivers
muscle strain
Nausea
Diarrhea

When the infection spreads to your nervous system, it can cause the following symptoms.

Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Convulsions

View the symptoms during pregnancy and in newborns here

During pregnancy, a listeria infection will likely only cause mild signs and symptoms in the mother. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the effects on the baby can be devastating, and the baby can die in the womb or develop a life-threatening infection within days of birth.

Signs and symptoms of listeria infection in a newborn may be subtle, but may include:

Little interest in feeding
Irritability
Fever
Vomit
Difficulty breathing.

Causes of Listeria Infection

The bacteria are found in soil, water and animal feces. People can become infected by eating the following:

Raw vegetables that have been contaminated by soil or by contaminated manure used as fertilizer
Contaminated meat
Unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk
Certain processed foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and deli meats that have become contaminated after processing
Unborn babies can contract listeria infection from their mother.