A CDC Investigation Notice regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections has been posted at https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24/index.html.
Key Points:
- 28 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 12 states. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized and two deaths have been reported, one from Illinois and one from New Jersey.
- In interviews with sick people, 16 of 18 (89%) reported eating meats sliced at deli counters. Our investigation is ongoing to determine which deli meat may be contaminated. We do not have information to show that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats.
What You Should Do:
- People who are at higher risk for getting sick with Listeria should avoid eating meats sliced at deli counters, unless heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot just before serving.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.
- Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of Listeria and recently ate meats sliced at deli counters.
- Businesses should follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.
About Listeria:
- Listeria can cause severe illness (known as invasive listeriosis) when the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body.
- Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threating infection of the newborn.
- People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
- Symptoms of severe illness usually start 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after.
If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.
Thank you,
CDC Media Support Branch
404-639-3286
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