(DailyDig.com) – An outbreak in 12 states of a fatal listeria is being looked into by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The food poisoning has caused two deaths and 28 hospitalizations for the illness, according to their update on July 19.
Many of the patients suffering from the outbreak said they had eaten sliced meat from deli counters. Until they identify the contaminated product, the CDC is not issuing a recall.
There have been reports of food-poisoning-related illnesses or deaths in the following states:
One person ill and one death:
Illinois
Two people ill and one death:
New Jersey
One person ill:
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Two people ill:
Georgia
Massachusetts
Missouri
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Six people ill:
Maryland
Seven people ill:
New York
The Listeria monocytogenes bacterium typically contaminates any food, leading to the CDC’s classification of Listeria as a serious infection. The CDC predicts that about 260 of the nearly 1,600 individuals who contract the Listeria bacterium will die.
The CDC warns pregnant women, those with weak or compromised immune systems, and those 65 years of age or older about their increased risk of contracting food poisoning from listeria.
For pregnant women, the CDC warns that a listeria infection may cause them to have a premature birth, the baby being born with an infection that could be life-threatening, or losing the baby prior to birth.
Hospitalization or even death may be a possibility for the elderly or those with weak immunity.
For people included in the three categories, they are advised not to eat any meat sliced from the deli unless they reheat it to 165 degrees F as the internal temperature. They should also clean any surfaces, including the refrigerator interior, that have come into contact with the meat. If they experience any of the following symptoms, they should contact their healthcare practitioner immediately:
The patient may experience flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches, fever, headache, confusion, stiff neck, seizures, or loss of balance.
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