CDC Warns of Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meats 

United States: The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent out a warning on Friday regarding the recent outbreak of the fatal Listeria bacteria spread across multi-state associated with deli meats. 

More about the news 

Human casualties are reported to have been two, with at least 28 people reported to have been admitted to different hospitals, as stated by the agency in its investigation notice. 

However, the CDC stresses that the reported number of sick people does not reflect the actual number of persons who develop listeriosis since a proportion of them might have experienced a less severe illness and did not seek testing, as local3news.com reported. 

There is also a gap between when an illness occurs and when researchers can relate it to an ongoing investigation. 

Number of rising cases 

Seven have been reported in New York, six in Maryland, two each in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, and Virginia, and one in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The alleged fatalities were in Illinois and New Jersey states. 

Reasons for disease spread 

Of the 18 participants whom the state and local public health experts interviewed, 16 mentioned they consumed meat sliced at a deli one month before the onset of the illness. Consumers have not complained of any symptoms of getting a disease after consuming this packaged deli meat. 

According to the CDC, the meat species cuplrit fro the spread of listeria in this outbreak is still quite unclear. Officials from the CDC and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating, but no recalls have been made. 

They were informed that most sick individuals said they had consumed turkey or liverwurst, and some stated they had consumed ham. 

The meat was purchased from different establishments in a grocery store deli section. The tests were based on the bacteria’s DNA sequences, proving that the bacteria that infected sick individuals likely originated from the same food source, as local3news.com reported. 

What more are the experts stating? 

According to the CDC, this outbreak has a rather long duration, measured in months. Specifically, the first person complained of falling ill in the last week of May, while the latest of the respondents indicated that he or she had fallen ill on July 5th. 

Depending on its group, Listeria bacteria are known to cause listeriosis, the third most frequent cause of death associated with foodborne illness in the United States. 

Infection may also lead to headaches, stiff neck, confusion, or seizures. Pregnant people may either miscarry or give birth early. 

Thus, according to the CDC, listeria can move from equipment to counter to hands to food. Refrigeration does not necessarily eliminate the bacteria, but heat does.