VIRGINIA, USA — A listeria outbreak has been linked to a death in Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The person has not been identified and additional details have not been made public.
According to the CDC's data, as of Thursday, 43 people have been infected in 13 different states. All 43 individuals have been hospitalized and three deaths have been reported nationwide, including Illinois and New Jersey.
The outbreak follows a recall from Boar's Head, who recalled a total of 80 products under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names as of July 30. The recall includes liverwurst, meat intended for slicing at delis, and some packaged meat and poultry products.
The products were produced between May 10 and July 29 and have sell-by dates ranging from July 29 to October 17. A full list of recalled products can be found here.
The CDC advises people to not consume the recalled deli meat products and also advises people who are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system to avoid eating deli meats or heat them before consumption.
What is Listeria?
According to Mayo Clinic, listeria infection is a foodborne illness. The listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water, and animal feces.
People can get infected by consuming:
- Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or manure used as fertilizer
- Contaminated meat
- Unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk
- Certain processed foods, such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, and deli meats that have been contaminated in processing
The CDC says Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.
People who are pregnant and their newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
What are the symptoms?
According to the CDC, symptoms of invasive illness usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria.
People who are pregnant:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Symptoms in pregnant people are usually mild. Some pregnant people never have symptoms.
- However, infection during pregnancy usually leads to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
People who are not pregnant:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
- Symptoms in non-pregnant people can be severe.
- Almost 1 in 6 non-pregnant people with invasive listeriosis die.
Symptoms in newborns
- Little interest in feeding
- Irritability
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
How to prevent an infection
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following:
- Keep things clean: Wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water before and after handling or preparing food. After cooking, use hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting boards and other food preparation surfaces.
- Scrub raw vegetables: Clean raw vegetables with a scrub brush or vegetable brush under plenty of running water.
- Cook your food thoroughly: Use a food thermometer to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature.
Anyone concerned about illness should contact their healthcare provider.