By Alexa Lartieri US Associate Health Editor Dailymail.Com
20:32 19 July 2024, Updated 22:12 19 July 2024
A listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meats has killed two people and sickened more than two dozen others.
The CDC announced Friday that 28 people in 12 states have been sickened by listeria bacteria linked to sliced deli meats, and two have died.
The health agency warns people not to eat meats purchased at deli counters unless they are reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit — a temperature high enough to kill bacteria.
Keeping meat cold does not eliminate listeria.
CDC investigators are still gathering information about the outbreak to determine the exact sources of listeria.
The CDC said: ‘Many people in this outbreak report eating deli meats.’
Sixteen of 18 people interviewed by the CDC reported eating deli-sliced meats, typically deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham. Meats were cut in various supermarkets and grocery stores.
Officials added: ‘Our investigation is ongoing to determine which deli meat may have been contaminated. We don’t have data to show that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats.’
The CDC did not disclose what specific products were affected.
All 28 people were hospitalized and samples were collected from May 29, 2024 to July 5, 2024 from the sick.
A pregnant woman was successfully cured.
Both deaths were reported in residents of Illinois and New Jersey.
The age of the patients ranged from 32 years to 94 years.
The CDC advises vulnerable populations such as the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, or pregnant women to take extra precautions and avoid deli meats unless properly reheated.
These individuals must clean all surfaces and containers that have come into contact with cut deli meats.
The announcement comes a day after it was revealed that two people have died and 10 have been sickened by listeria in almond milk and other dairy-free alternatives in Canada.
Nine of them have been hospitalized and most of the cases are in Ontario.
They consumed Silk Branded Oats, Almond, Cashew or Coconut Milk as a substitute
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Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a bacterial infection that can lead to severe illness and death.
Nausea, cramps, diarrhea and constipation are warning signs of listeria infection – which usually manifests within a few hours to three days of consuming contaminated food.
More than 90 percent of patients are hospitalized, the FDA says.
In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system and cause meningitis — swelling of the fluid around the brain — and sepsis.
Both can prove fatal.
Officials say people with weakened immune systems and those over 60 are particularly at risk of infection.
Pregnant women with Listeria have a higher risk of miscarriage because the bacteria can be passed on to the fetus.
About 1,600 people are infected with listeria each year in the United States, estimates suggest, while about 260 die.
