Almost 30 people have gotten sick and two individuals have died due to a listeria outbreak linked to deli meats in the United States as of July 24, 2024. Everyone known to be part of the outbreak has been hospitalized, the Associated Press reported.
Listeria Outbreak: What Happened?
According to a United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigation notice, “Many people in this outbreak are reporting eating meats that they had sliced at deli counters.” 28 people had fallen ill and been hospitalized as of July 19, and 12 states were affected.
The states where the 28 people in this Listeria outbreak lived are:
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
What Deli Meat is Impacted by the Listeria Outbreak?
It is not currently known what brands of deli meat are tied to the outbreak, according to CBS News. Officials said people who got sick most commonly reported eating deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham, AP News noted.
“Products sold at the deli, especially those sliced or prepared at the deli, can be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands, and food,” the CDC notice revealed.
The CDC defines listeriosis as “a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.” An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis every year, and about 260 die.
Risk Factors for Listeria Outbreak
Listeria infection can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, people older than 65, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the Mayo Clinic. But listeriosis is a potentially life-threatening food poisoning that can impact anyone, and anyone who regularly purchases deli meat needs to be aware of this latest outbreak.
Symptoms of invasive listeriosis – when the bacteria spreads beyond the intestines – “generally start within 2 weeks after eating contaminated food,” CBS News noted. Symptoms for non-pregnant people include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
Unfortunately, in pregnant individuals, Listeria infection can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in newborns.
This current outbreak includes people aged 32 to 94, with a median age of 75, AP News reported, with one pregnant person included. Thankfully, they retained the pregnancy.
Get Help from Phillips Law Group
If you think you have food poisoning caused by this listeria outbreak, contact your health provider for help as well as your local or state health department, and make sure to catalog as much information as possible about what you believe made you sick. Having information on what you ate, where, and when, may help solve this outbreak.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to listeria poisoning, via this outbreak or another manner, consider turning to a food poisoning attorney like the ones on the team at Phillips Law Group for assistance after seeking medical help. You have legal rights when it comes to food safety, and may be able to file a claim for compensation if you or a loved one got Listeriosis food poisoning linked to a food product.
Please call our firm today at 602-222-2222 to learn more.
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