At least two people have died and more than a dozen have been hospitalized after contracting Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria linked to meat sold at deli counters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AJ Watt/iStockphoto/Getty Images Hide caption
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AJ Watts/iStockphoto/Getty Images
At least two people have died and dozens have been hospitalized in an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to meat sold at a US delicatessen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
The CDC said Friday that 28 people in 12 states are hospitalized.
But federal health officials have warned that the actual number of infections may be higher than reported because some people may have mild symptoms that do not require serious medical treatment.
New York state had the most confirmed cases with seven, followed by Maryland with six. The two people who died lived in Illinois and New Jersey.
The outbreak is linked to deli meats sold over the counter.
The CDC said investigators are still gathering details about which products may be contaminated and that they don’t yet have enough information to issue a recall, but that there have been no reports of people getting sick from eating prepackaged deli meats.
Many people involved in the outbreak have reported becoming ill after eating sliced meat purchased from various supermarket and deli counters, and the CDC has recommended not eating deli meat purchased from delis unless it is cooked before eating.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a foodborne illness that sickens about 1,600 people and kills about 260 in the United States each year. It can cause serious infections and even death, especially in pregnant women, people over 65, children, and people with weakened immune systems. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and drowsiness.
This latest outbreak is the second to hit the U.S. this summer. In June, a Maryland-based food manufacturer was forced to recall several brands of ice cream products sold nationwide after the Food and Drug Administration reported they may be contaminated with Listeria.
