Multi-State Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meats Hospitalize 10, One Dead

Listeria contamination in a multi-state outbreak linked to deli meats leave ten people hospitalized and one person killed.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statement released on Friday, health authorities in three states are currently under investigation regarding the outbreak.

Seven cases were reported in Massachusetts, one case in Florida, and two cases in New York, as of Thursday afternoon. The person affected in Florida has died from the infection, as per NY Daily News. Those infected are on an average age of 81 and are mostly female.

The public health and regulatory officials said after conducting interviews with nine ill people that all of them reported they ate Italian-style-meats- such as mortadella, salami, and prosciutto brought either prepackaged or at deli counters at several locations.

Meanwhile, the CDC has not specified the type of meat caused by the listeria outbreak and a common supplier. According to Everyday Health, listeria infection is a potentially fatal food-borne bacterial disease that causes severe fever, nausea, and diarrhea.

William Schaffner, MD, a professor of preventive medicine and health policy and infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, Tennessee, says, "Listeria can be very dangerous. I think particularly in older persons because it clearly can cause systemic illness with bloodstream infections."

It is not a surprise for Schaffner to see a primarily older population suffering from listeria disease. People aged 65 and older face a higher risk of getting severely ill from listeria, CDC warns. Besides, pregnant women who have weakened immune systems could become seriously ill as well.

These high-risk populations recommend that the CDC avoid eating deli meats unless they were heated to an average temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot before serving. The federal health agency also suggests keeping deli meats separated from other food items, even if refrigerated. The listeria can still survive in cold temperatures and spread to other surfaces and food items.

CDC estimates that about 1,600 individuals get listeriosis yearly, while 260 of them die. Schaffner noted that foods could be contaminated with listeria if they are in proximity to the source of bacteria.

Aside from fever, nausea, and diarrhea, patients may also experience chills and muscle aches. Listeria infection can spread in an infected person's nervous system, producing stiff neck, headache, or changes in alertness, convulsions, and loss of balance, the Mayo Clinic cautions.

First signs of infection can take up to 30 days or more before they appear, while symptoms can occur after eating contaminated food. Schaffner suggests contacting a health care expert immediately if you exhibit signs and suspect you may have eaten contaminated food.

Schaffner says that if diagnosed early, listeria can be treated with antibiotics. Consumers are advised to check with the CDC website as the investigation continues, and details about the source of the multi-state Listeria outbreak further develop.

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