A foodborne listeria outbreak linked to Deli Meat:
A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to deli counter meat and cheese has resulted in 13 hospitalizations, one death, and one miscarriage. A number of state regulatory and public health agencies, the USDA’s FSIS, the U.S. FDA, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are presently looking into the epidemic of foodborne illness. Individuals are getting sick from eating cheese and meat at deli counters that are contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The CDC advises vulnerable people not to eat meat or cheese from any deli counter unless it has been reheated to at least 165 °F.
The CDC detected 16 persons sick across six states. Samples from the case patients were collected and the actual number of infected people is probably more than what was reported. There have been cases of illnesses linked to the outbreak in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and California. The ages of case patients range from 38 to 92, with a median age of 74, and 62% of them are men. 11 of the 13 people having ethnicity information are from Eastern Europe or speak Russian. Thirteen of the 14 people with information have been hospitalized, including one Maryland resident who died. One woman experienced a miscarriage due to a pregnancy-related illness.
Patients are being questioned by state and municipal public health officials about the meals they consumed before they fell ill. 11 of the 12 individuals surveyed admitted to consuming meat or cheese at deli counters. 5 of the 7 affected persons in New York purchased sliced deli meat or cheese from at least one NetCost Market store.
The CDC PulseNet technology is being used by public health investigators to find diseases that might be connected to the outbreak. PulseNet is responsible for maintaining a national database of DNA fingerprints of germs that cause foodborne diseases. Bacteria’s entire genome sequencing is used for DNA fingerprinting. After being informed of the sampling results by New York regulators, NetCost Market decided to temporarily close the deli in Brooklyn.
The FDA has reported a new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections:
The Food and Drug Administration has added a new epidemic of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses from an unidentified food to the list of outbreaks under investigation. The FDA has not disclosed the ages or states of residence of the two confirmed patients. This illness outbreak is distinct from a previous one. There are 16 confirmed cases, and one of them has passed away.
One of the patients was pregnant at the time of the infection but lost the child. Thirteen of the patients needed to be admitted to the hospital. The FDA confirmed a two-patient epidemic and has started traceback procedures, but has not disclosed what food or foods are being traced. Testing of samples and on-site inspection has not yet started.
Listeria Infection:
Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated food may not appear or smell rotten, yet it can still result in serious infections that can even be fatal. Listeria infections can cause nausea, vomiting, a lingering fever, muscle aches, severe headaches, and stiff necks. Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and persons with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are especially vulnerable to life-threatening infections. Pregnant women who are infected might only have minor flu-like symptoms, but their illnesses might cause early labor, infection in the baby, or even stillbirth.