Two dead in multistate listeria outbreak linked with sliced deli meat, CDC says

Jen Christensen, CNN

(CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a informing Friday astir a deadly multistate listeria outbreak connected to deli meat.

Two group person died, nan agency said successful an investigation notice, and astatine slightest 28 person had to beryllium hospitalized. However, nan CDC says nan existent number of group who are sick is astir apt higher than what’s been reported because immoderate whitethorn person had a milder shape of nan unwellness and not been tested for listeria. There’s besides a lag clip betwixt erstwhile an unwellness happens and erstwhile scientists tin link it pinch an ongoing investigation.

Of nan 18 group whom authorities and section nationalist wellness experts were capable to interview, 16 reported eating meats sliced astatine a deli successful nan period earlier they sewage sick. There are nary reports of group getting sick aft eating packaged deli meat.

It’s not precisely clear what nutrient is to blasted for nan listeria successful this outbreak, nan CDC says. The CDC and nan US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating, but nary recalls person been issued.

Most group who were sick reported eating turkey aliases liverwurst, and immoderate reported eating ham. The nutrient came from a assortment of market shop delis. Tests utilizing DNA fingerprinting showed that nan germs from sick group was genetically similar, suggesting that they astir apt caught nan germs from nan aforesaid food.

The timeline of this outbreak stretches complete respective months, nan CDC said. The first personification sewage sick astatine nan extremity of May, and nan astir caller lawsuit reported being sick connected July 5.

Listeria germs tin origin listeriosis, nan 3rd starring origin of decease from foodborne unwellness successful nan United States. Symptoms usually see fever, musculus aches and fatigue. Infection whitethorn besides origin a headache, a stiff neck, disorder aliases seizures. Pregnant group whitethorn person gestation nonaccomplishment aliases premature birth.

Listeria tin dispersed easy astatine delis, nan CDC says, transferring from instrumentality to surfaces to hands and food. Refrigeration does not termination nan bacteria, but power can.

People who are pregnant, those who are 65 and older, and those pinch weakened immune systems are advised to debar eating deli nutrient unless it’s been heated until it steams aliases reaches an soul somesthesia of 165 F.

If you’ve had sliced deli nutrient astatine home, cleanable nan refrigerator and immoderate containers aliases surfaces that whitethorn person travel into interaction pinch it.

Anyone who develops symptoms of listeriosis should get aesculapian attraction correct away.

The CDC is besides encouraging group who get sick pinch listeria to activity pinch section nationalist wellness officials, who whitethorn get successful touch to find retired what they ate successful nan past period and whitethorn inquire for receipts aliases leftover nutrient to thief pinpoint nan guidelines of nan outbreak.