new york – Listeria outbreak Related to deli meat At least seven people have been infected in New York.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigating More than 20 cases of the illness were reported in 12 states.
As of Friday, 28 people were hospitalized with the virus, most of them in New York state. One death has been reported in New Jersey and one in Illinois.
In New Jersey, one case has been reported in Monmouth County and one in Passaic County. There have been no reported cases in Connecticut so far.
The first case was reported on May 29, and the most recent illness linked to this outbreak was reported on July 5. The patients range in age from 32 to 94 years old.
CDC
Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat
According to the CDC, 16 of the 18 patients interviewed reported eating meats purchased pre-sliced at the deli counter, including turkey, liverwurst, and ham.
At this time, this outbreak has not been linked to any specific stores, brands or products. No recalls have been issued in connection to this outbreak.
The CDC says there is no information that anyone has become ill from eating prepackaged deli meat.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate food.
Doctors say it’s hard to pinpoint where the bacteria comes from, but there are ways to remove it.
“We recommend cooking meat to about 165 degrees or steaming it, because that’s the only way to kill listeria,” said Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi, chief medical officer and infectious disease specialist at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
The most common symptoms of listeriosis (infection caused by Listeria bacteria) are fever, muscle aches and fatigue, but people who are ill may also experience headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures.
Symptoms may begin on the same day the contaminated food is eaten, but usually appear within 2 weeks of ingestion.
Listeria rarely causes serious illness in most people, but it can be especially harmful to people over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.
