According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 cases have been recorded as hospitalized and there are also 9 fatalities reported in the Listeria outbreak.
As the CDC information on the total, the count of patients availing of the hospital services is 57 out of which six new deaths were reported including One from Florida, one from Tennessee, one from New Mexico, one from New York, and two from South Carolina.
This is the most severe listeriosis outbreak associated with the melons since 2011.
What is Listeria outbreak?
The bacteria known as Listeria is particularly resilient and can be found on many surfaces such as the insides of meat slicers, and even survive in foods that are kept at cold storage. Symptoms relating to Listeriosis may occur in some individuals regardless of the exposure, and the lag period could be as long as 10 weeks. If bacteria move from the intestines to other parts of the body, it causes a serious disease known as invasive listeriosis.
Source of outbreak
Several lines of evidence from epidemiological studies, laboratory studies, and traceback studies have pointed to deli meats, especially, ready to eat deli-style slices of lunch meats such as “Boar’s Head brand liverwurst” as potential listeria sources. As a consequence patients becoming ill have also traced their illness back to such consumption.
Deli meats, particularly sliced and ready-to-eat products, are more at risk of Listeria. The Listeria bacterium is mobile and can be disseminated in the deli to the equipment and the food, on surfaces and hands of workers. However, it is crucial to understand that refrigeration is not the answer to get rid of Listeria in food because this bacterium can grow in cold temperatures. For safety reasons, these prepared meats are required to be heated to a high temperature in order to ensure that any Listeria bacteria will be no longer viable.
What types of symptoms arise from Listeria Olympics?
‘According to Dr B S Ravindra, Director, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Listeria infection(listeriosis) is characterized by fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain among other intestinal dystrophy symptoms. When few of the symptoms become pronounced such as fever or chills, headache and stiff neck, the disease progresses to meningitis or septicemia. And of greater concern, the condition may affect pregnant women, infants, the elderly and people who are sick.’
The disease can lead and create a lot of pain, problems, and symptoms for the affected person especially populations at risk. There is a risk of suffering major health problems related to listeriosis among pregnant women, new-borns and elderly population, and those with weakened immune response. Such central nervous system attacks may result in cerebral inflammation known as meningitis, or blood poisoning termed as septicemia.
What you ought to do?
If you have any exercised or used the particular deli products that are found to be recalled then do not eat it. Get rid of it the correct way without eating it first, or go to the shop that you bought it in, and ask about being allowed to return it instead.
Those who are at higher risks of being infected with Listeria bacteria such as pregnant women, elderly, aged 65, and those with low immunity should avoid eating cold meats that include deli sliced meats unless they are heated to 165 degrees F and less or steaming hot just before serving.
To reduce the chances of providing a risk, clean the refrigerator well, the containers and even the surfaces when before and after they are used with the sliced deli meat so that there is no risk of contamination.
In case you are having these meats that have been cut off at the deli counter and you have a listeria infection or are having any symptoms relating to this bacterium infection I’ll advice you on seeing your doctors in good time.
Anyone who has received the meat subject to the recall schedule must take further measures of prevention and control: act at once cleaning and sanitizing their facility. They need to also throw away all open established sliced deli meats and almost open sliced cheeses found on broad sections. Additionally, establishments are encouraged to follow the USDA – FSIS’s performance standards for controlling listeria in deli areas.
