CDC issues dire Listeria warning regarding deli meats and cheeses
On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that that they, along with public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.
Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that meat and cheese from deli counters contaminated with Listeria are making people sick. Investigators are still working to identify any specific products or delis that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain.
The warning comes as the CDC investigates a listeria outbreak that sickened 16 people, one of whom died, in six states: California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. ~ WLTX
You are at higher risk for severe Listeria illness if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you are in any of these groups, do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot. ~ CDC, 11/09/2022
- As of November 9, 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 6 states (see map).
- Sick people’s samples were collected from April 17, 2021, to September 29, 2022 (see timeline).
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
The CDC advises people at higher risk of severe Listeria illness to not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.
From the CDC: What People at High Risk Should Do
You are at higher risk for severe Listeria illness if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you are not in these groups, you are unlikely to get very sick from Listeria. If you are at higher risk:
- Do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.
- This is because Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched deli meat or cheese from the deli.
- Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of severe Listeria illness after eating meat or cheese from a deli:
- People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
- Pregnant people usually experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
The CDC said that people not in the high-risk groups groups are unlikely to get very sick from the pathogen, although they can still fall ill with mild food poisoning symptoms, such as diarrhea and fever. Most people recover without treatment, but the agency warned that the illness can cause severe illness or even death in newborns, while pregnant people can suffer pregnancy loss or premature birth. ~ WLTX
For more on the story, see the video below accompanying this article.
(Source: CDC)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
