Listeria outbreak in the United states linked to meat sold at deli counters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a listeria epidemic connected to meat sold at U.S. deli counters has resulted in at least two deaths and several hospitalizations.

The CDC said on Friday that 28 individuals had been admitted to hospitals across 12 states.

However, the federal health office issued a warning, stating that it’s possible that other people had lesser instances that didn’t need significant medical attention, meaning that the actual number of cases is probably larger than what’s been recorded.

With seven cases each, New York state and Maryland had the largest confirmed outbreaks. The two deceased individuals were residents of New Jersey and Illinois.

The outbreak is tied to deli meat sold at counters

The CDC said investigators were still collecting details about what products may be contaminated. While it hadn’t yet collected enough information to issue any recalls, the agency said there were no reports of people getting sick after eating prepackaged deli meat.

Many people linked to the outbreak reported getting sick after eating sliced meats bought from various supermarkets and deli counters. The CDC advised people to avoid eating deli meats bought at delis unless heated before eating.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LISTERIA

Every year, over 1,600 Americans contract listeria, a bacterial foodborne infection that results in about 260 fatalities. It can cause serious and occasionally deadly infections, particularly in those who are immune system impaired, pregnant, 65 years of age or older, or in youngsters. The usual symptoms include tiredness, pains in the muscles, and fever.

The United States has now had two outbreaks this summer. The Food and Drug Administration revealed in June that many kinds of ice cream products sold nationally may have been tainted with listeria, forcing a Maryland-based food producer to recall the items.