Five more people have died in a nationwide outbreak of Listeria infections linked to contaminated Boar's Head brand meat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
So far, 57 people in 18 states have been sickened, all of whom have required hospitalization. A total of eight people have died. At last count, this makes it the largest listeriosis outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, when cantaloupe processed in an unsanitary facility led to 147 Listeria infections in 28 states, resulting in 33 deaths, the CDC said.
The new cases and deaths come after a massive recall of more than 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head meat products, which included 71 of the company’s products. That recall was announced on July 30, which itself was an extension of a July 26 recall of an additional 207,528 pounds of Boar’s Head products. As of Aug. 8, when the CDC last provided an update on the outbreak, the number of cases had risen to 43, with 43 hospitalizations and three deaths.
In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the CDC said the updated number of cases and deaths is a “reminder to avoid recalled products.” The agency noted that the outbreak bacteria, Listeria monocytogenesis a “persistent germ that can persist on surfaces, such as meat-processing machinery, and on food, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to develop symptoms of listeriosis.” The agency is urging people to check their refrigerators for recalled Boar's Head products, which have a sell-by date that extends through October.
If you find recalled meat, don’t eat it, the agency warns. Throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a refund. The CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also recommend sanitizing your refrigerator, since the bacteria can linger.
L. monocytogenes is most dangerous for pregnant women, people 65 years of age or older, and people with weakened immune systems. In these groups, the bacteria are more likely to spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract and cause an invasive listeriosis infection. In older and immunocompromised people, listeriosis usually causes fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, but can also cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. These cases almost always require hospitalization, and 1 in 6 die. In pregnant women, listeriosis also causes fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, but can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening infection in their newborns.
