Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meat Leads to 2 Deaths: CDC

This 2002 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, responsible for the food borne illness listeriosis. (Elizabeth White/CDC via AP, File)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported two deaths from a Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat on Friday.

In addition to two deaths, the CDC reported 28 illnesses and hospitalizations in 12 states.

“Many people in this outbreak are reporting eating meat that they had sliced at deli counters,” the CDC said. “Investigators are collecting information to determine the specific products that may be contaminated. Products sold at the deli, especially those sliced or prepared at the deli, can be contaminated with Listeria.”

The cases of illnesses and hospitalizations listed by the CDC are all in the central and east coast states: Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Listeria can be killed by reheating the meat to “a high enough temperature,” the CDC said. However, it can’t be killed by refrigeration.

It’s easily spread on kitchen surfaces and equipment, as well as on hands and food, the CDC said.

“Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, are aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments,” the CDC said. “Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.”

The CDC warned that those who fall under these categories should not eat deli meat unless it is reheated to a sufficiently high temperature to kill the bacteria.

It is suggested that people clean surfaces, refrigerators, and containers where deli meat has made contact.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Listeria poisoning range from fever and muscle aches to confusion and seizures.

“Invasive illness in pregnant people is usually mild,” the CDC said. “However, invasive illness during pregnancy usually leads to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Infection during pregnancy results in fetal loss in about 20% of cases and newborn death in about 3% of cases.”

State health officials advise those sick with Listeria to list what they ate a month before they got sick and may request receipts, samples of leftover food for testing, and one’s shopping card number for investigation.

Approximately 1,600 people get Listeria annually.

Of that number, about 260 cases of infection are fatal, the CDC reported.

It’s the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness, the CDC said.

There have been recalls for several products this month linked to Listeria, such as consumer-brand peanuts and farm-grown cucumbers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that because Listeria can survive and spread in food and food processing plants for up to ten years, it can be hard to control.

“The bacteria are able to live in a wide range of conditions and environments—they can tolerate both acidic and salty conditions, both high and low temperatures, and a fairly low moisture content,” the FDA said.