Current:Home > InvestListeria outbreak linked to deli meats causes 2 deaths. Here's what to know about symptoms.-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Listeria outbreak linked to deli meats causes 2 deaths. Here's what to know about symptoms.
View Date:2024-12-23 21:55:58
A listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meats has killed two people and sickened 28 others across 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is currently unknown what brands of deli meat are tied to the outbreak, but an active investigation aims to determine the specific products that may be contaminated, the agency said in an update Friday.
"Products sold at the deli, especially those sliced or prepared at the deli, can be contaminated with Listeria," the CDC notes on its website. "Listeria spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food."
The states currently impacted include: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
What is listeria?
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause illness known as listeriosis. The CDC defines listeriosis as "a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes."
It is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, elderly (aged 65 or older) or who have weakened immune systems.
An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die, according to the agency.
To avoid illness, the CDC recommends people at higher risk avoid eating meats sliced at the deli or heat them to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot before eating. Refrigeration does not kill listeria.
The current outbreak has been linked to contaminated deli meat, but other types of food can also pose risks if they get contaminated with the bacteria, including unpasteurized raw milk or products made with it, or raw vegetables that had contact with listeria in the soil or fertilizer, the Mayo Clinic explains.
Symptoms of listeria infection
Signs and symptoms of listeria infection can vary. For intestinal illness, which usually starts within 24 hours after eating contaminated food and lasts around 1 to 3 days, symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
"This kind of illness is rarely diagnosed because laboratories do not regularly test patient stool (poop) samples for Listeria," the CDC notes. But this can develop into invasive illness, which is when the bacteria spreads beyond the intestines.
Symptoms of invasive illness, or invasive listeriosis, generally start within 2 weeks after eating contaminated food. Symptoms for non-pregnant people include:
- 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," the CDC notes. "Almost 1 in 6 non-pregnant people with invasive listeriosis die."
For pregnant people, symptoms also include fever and flu-like symptoms. While the symptoms are usually milder, and some pregnant people never even experience symptoms, the infection can harm the baby, leading to "miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn," the CDC warns.
- In:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Listeria
Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.
TwitterveryGood! (237)
Related
- U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
- Criminals are using AI tools like ChatGPT to con shoppers. Here's how to spot scams.
- Alex Smith roasts Tom Brady's mediocrity comment: He played in 'biggest cupcake division'
- Archaeologists discover mummies of children that may be at least 1,000 years old – and their skulls still had hair on them
- Atmospheric river to bring heavy snow, rain to Northwest this week
- 2 teens shot, suspect arrested at downtown Cleveland plaza after annual tree-lighting ceremony
- Dogs gone: Thieves break into LA pet shop, steal a dozen French bulldogs, valued at $100,000
- Environmental protesters board deep-sea mining ship between Hawaii and Mexico
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- How Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer Bonded Over a Glass of Milk
Ranking
- Charles Hanover: Caution, Bitcoin May Be Entering a Downward Trend!
- Teenage murder suspect escapes jail for the second time in November
- This week on Sunday Morning (November 26)
- Flight data recorder recovered from US Navy plane that overshot the runway near Honolulu
- Young Black and Latino men say they chose Trump because of the economy and jobs. Here’s how and why
- Israel-Hamas war rages with cease-fire delayed, Israeli hostage and Palestinian prisoner families left to hope
- 'Too fat for cinema': Ridley Scott teases 'Napoleon' extended cut to stream on Apple TV+
- Colorado suspect arrested after 5 puppies, 2 kittens found dead in car trunk.
Recommendation
-
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
-
Beyoncé films to watch ahead of 'Renaissance' premiere
-
'Too fat for cinema': Ridley Scott teases 'Napoleon' extended cut to stream on Apple TV+
-
Ohio State coach Ryan Day should consider Texas A&M job after latest loss to Michigan
-
'We suffered great damage': Fierce California wildfire burns homes, businesses
-
Becky G Reveals How She Found Her Inner Strength By Making This Lifestyle Change
-
Michigan football has shown it can beat Ohio State. Now it's time to beat everyone else.
-
Jordan’s top diplomat wants to align Europeans behind a call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza