What Is Listeria?

More than 50 illnesses and nine deaths have been reported due Listeria outbreak in US. According to latest data released by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, the outbreak has been reported in 18 states with a total of 57 people have been hospitalised. This is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 linked to cantaloupe.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a resilient bacterium that can survive on surfaces, such as meat slicers, and in foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. Reheating foods to a sufficiently high temperature before consumption can eliminate the bacteria.

What are the Symptoms of Listeria?

Symptoms of listeria include fever, chills, and headache and can take up to ten weeks to manifest in some individuals. Listeria can be very serious for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and people over 65. In 2011, more than 30 people died from affected cantaloupe.

Discovered from Boar’s Head liverwurst

The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people. Boar’s Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to Aug. 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia.

CDS advisory

CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.

Death confirmed by contaminated Boar’s Head products

Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects. In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, of Newport News, died on July 18 from a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria, an illness that was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.