A listeria outbreak linked to sliced meat at deli counters in a dozen states has hospitalized nearly 30 people, including at least 10 in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey — where one person has died from the infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, samples collected from May 29 to July 5 indicate that at least 28 people in 12 states have been infected with the same strain of listeria. But the actual number of infections is likely higher, officials say, since some patients recover without seeking medical care and are not tested for the bacteria.
All 28 people, between the ages of 32 and 94, have had to be hospitalized, the CDC said. New York has seen the highest number of cases, with seven hospitalizations, followed by Maryland, where six people reported getting sick.
Two cases, including one fatal, were reported in New Jersey, while one person in Pennsylvania tested positive for the bacteria.
Another fatal case was reported in Illinois, officials said, while one pregnant person got sick but appeared to recover.
Epidemiologic information indicates that “many people” in the outbreak reported getting sick after eating meats including turkey, liverwurst, and ham sliced at deli counters. There’s currently no information on contamination from prepackaged deli meats.
The CDC also doesn’t have enough information to say which brands of deli meats are the source of the outbreak.
Symptoms of listeria infection usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, confusion and loss of balance.
Contamination is especially harmful to pregnant people, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune symptoms. While other people can also be infected with listeria, serious illnesses are rare in such cases.