Officials Warn Citizens on Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meat

Listeria strain bacteria-infected 10 people from Florida, Massachusetts, and New York.

Epidemiologic evidence released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC shows deli meat may be the source of the said outbreak.

According to the CDC, the nine victims were all reported eating Italian style meats such as mortadella, salami, and prosciutto.

One death was reported from the State of Florida because of the said outbreak.

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What is Listeria?

According to CDC, Listeria or Listeriosis is an infection that weakens the immune systems for affected adults 65 years of age and above, and sometimes affect other parts of the body including, bones, sites in the chest, and abdomen, and joints.

Listeria as mentioned by the US Food and Drug Administration or FDA, is a species of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can be found in decaying vegetation and animals, water, and soil, and it can thrive even under refrigeration and other food preservation measures.

According to Mayo Clinic, Listeriosis can be very serious for pregnant women because it can be fatal to the unborn children and also newborn babies. CDC added that Listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death.

According to the CDC's data, in the United States, about 1600 people get the disease every year.

Mayo Clinic added that most listeria infections are mild that they can go unnoticed. However, the clinic emphasized that there can be life-threatening complications such as Generalized blood infection and inflammation of the membranes, or even fluid surrounding the brain.

FDA stated that the previous listeriosis outbreaks came from unpasteurized milk and cheeses, raw or processed vegetables, fruits, and poultry, sausages, deli meats. They added that the bacteria can also be found in raw pet food.  

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How to prevent yourself from having the disease

According to UPMC Pinnacle, preventing yourself from consuming unpasteurized cheeses and drinking unpasteurized milk and eggnogs will help you avoid having listeriosis. CDC said in their report that people who have a higher risk of infection or getting listeria should avoid eating deli meats, sausages, and hotdogs unless they are heated internally at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Preventing Listeriosis inside your Homes

According to the US FDA, Listeria can grow inside the refrigerator. Therefore, Listeria contaminated food can grow and multiply in the cold temperature and will contaminate your other goods. They added that keeping your refrigerator temperature 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower will slow down the growth of Listeria bacteria.

Regularly cleaning your refrigerator with warm water and soap will also help because spilling from your food can cause listeria contamination.

FDA also said that the same solution (soapy warm water) can also be used on your counters to further kill listeria bacteria. 

On Establishments

FDA advised the local establishments or foodservice operators who handle recalled possible contaminated products in their facilities to contact their local health department. FDA recommends that establishments observe the temperature control in order to prevent the opportunity of growth or expose more people to the said outbreak.

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