A dangerous listeria outbreak has hit the United States, claiming two lives and hospitalizing 28 people across 12 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes the source is likely sliced deli meats.
The listeria outbreak, which began in May, has affected people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. Tragically, one death occurred in Illinois and another in New Jersey.
Most of the infected individuals reported eating various sliced meat at deli counters before falling ill. Turkey, liverwurst, and ham were the most commonly consumed meats. The CDC found that people in this outbreak were more likely to eat deli-sliced turkey and liverwurst compared to other listeria cases.
“This information suggests that meats sliced at the deli are a likely source of this outbreak,” the CDC stated. However, they added, “At this time CDC doesn’t have enough information to say which deli meats are the source of this outbreak.”
The true scale of the listeria outbreak may be larger than reported. Some people recover from listeria without medical care and are never tested, while recent cases might not have been reported yet due to the time it takes to link a case to an outbreak.
The CDC recommends avoiding deli-sliced meats unless they’re heated before eating. They particularly warn pregnant women, people 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems to be cautious and contact their doctor if they experience any listeria symptoms.
Listeria symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. For pregnant women, the infection can lead to serious complications like pregnancy loss.
As investigations continue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to identify the supplier of the contaminated meats. The CDC emphasizes that proper food handling and thorough heating of deli meats can help prevent listeria infections.
