CNN
—
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert Friday about a deadly multistate listeria outbreak linked to deli meat.
Two people have died, the company said in a statement Notice of Inquiry, and at least 28 required hospitalization. However, the CDC says the actual number of sick people may be higher than reported because some people may have had a milder form of the disease and were not tested for listeria. There is a lag between when a disease occurs and when scientists can link it to an ongoing investigation.
Of the 18 people state and local public health officials were able to interview, 16 reported eating deli-cut meat in the month before getting sick. There are no reports of people getting sick after eating packaged deli meat.
It’s unclear what meat is responsible for listeria in this outbreak, the CDC says. CDC and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service InvestigationBut no recall has been issued.
Most people who got sick reported eating turkey or liverwurst, and some ate ham. The meat came from various grocery stores. Tests using DNA fingerprinting showed that bacteria from sick people were genetically similar, suggesting they may have caught the bacteria from the same food.
The chronology of this eruption spans several months, The CDC said. The first person fell ill in late May, and the latest case was reported on July 5.
Listeria bacteria listeriosis, the The third main reason Deaths from foodborne illness in the United States. Symptoms usually include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. The infection may also cause headaches, stiff neck, confusion or seizures. Pregnant women may experience miscarriage or premature birth.
Get CNN Health’s weekly newsletter
Listeria spreads easily on dishes, the CDC says, transferring from equipment to surfaces to hands and food. Refrigeration does not kill bacteria, but heat can.
People who are pregnant, age 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems are advised to avoid eating deli meat unless it is cooked or reheated to an internal temperature of 165 F.
If you keep sliced deli meat at home, clean the refrigerator and any containers or surfaces that come in contact with it.
Anyone who develops symptoms of listeriosis should seek immediate medical attention.
CDC It is also encouraging People with listeria can contact local public health officials to find out what they ate in the past month and ask for receipts or leftover food to help identify the source of the outbreak.
