CDC says there are two fatalities in a multistate listeria epidemic connected to sliced deli meat.
The deadly multistate listeria epidemic linked to deli meat was the subject of a warning released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.
According to an agency investigation notification, two people have passed away and at least twenty-eight have required hospitalization. The CDC asserts that while the number of cases reported may be lower, the actual number of cases is likely higher since some patients may have had a less severe case and have not had a listeria test. Additionally, there is a delay between the onset of an illness and the time it takes for experts to link it to a current study.
New York has reported seven infections, Maryland has reported six, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, and Virginia have reported two, and Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have reported one each. Reports of the deaths came from New Jersey and Illinois.
Sixteen out of the eighteen individuals who were interviewed by state and local public health specialists said they had eaten sliced meats from a deli in the month prior to becoming ill. Nobody has reported becoming ill after consuming packaged deli meat.
According to the CDC, it’s unclear precisely which meat is to blame for the listeria outbreak. No recalls have been announced, but the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the CDC are still looking into the matter.
The majority of sick persons said they had eaten liverwurst or turkey, and some had even eaten ham. The meat was sourced from multiple delis at supermarket stores. DNA fingerprinting tests revealed that the germs from ill individuals shared genetic similarities, indicating that the infection was most likely acquired from the same diet.
The CDC stated that this outbreak has a multi-month duration. The first patient became ill at the end of May, and on July 5, the most recent case reported being ill.
The third most common foodborne illness that results in mortality in the US is listeriosis, which is caused by the bacteria Listeria. Frequent symptoms include weariness, aches in the muscles, and fever. Confusion, convulsions, a stiff neck, and headaches are among symptoms of infection. Premature birth or pregnancy loss can happen to pregnant persons.
According to the CDC, listeria may spread quickly in delis from surfaces to hands to equipment to food. Heat has the power to eradicate microorganisms; refrigeration cannot.
It is recommended that deli meat not be consumed by persons who are 65 years of age or older, pregnant women, or anyone with compromised immune systems unless it has been cooked until it steams or reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
Clean the refrigerator and any utensils or surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced deli meat if you’ve had it at home.
Anyone experiencing signs of listeriosis should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
In order to help identify the source of the epidemic, the CDC is also advising individuals who contract listeria to collaborate with their local public health officials. These officials may contact sick individuals to inquire about their diet during the previous month and may request receipts or leftover food.
The Hershey’s Cookies & Cream Polar Bear ice cream sandwiches, Jeni’s Mint Chocolate Truffle pie ice cream sandwiches, and Chipwich Vanilla Chocolate Chip ice cream sandwiches are some of the more than 60 products that are part of the recall.
HEALTH
A recall of over 60 ice cream products was issued due to potential listeria contamination.
Every year, over 1,600 Americans contract listeria, a bacterial foodborne infection that results in about 260 fatalities. It can cause serious and occasionally deadly infections, particularly in those who are immune system impaired, pregnant, 65 years of age or older, or in youngsters. The usual symptoms include tiredness, aches in the muscles, and fever.
The United States has now experienced two outbreaks this summer. The Food and Drug Administration revealed in June that many kinds of ice cream products sold nationwide may have been tainted with listeria, forcing a Maryland-based food manufacturer to recall the products.
