The CDC recommends thorough cleaning of refrigerators and surfaces to prevent contamination.

The deadly listeria outbreak in sausage products, which was first reported in July and has been linked to several hospitalizations in many US states since Tuesday, could cause further illnesses, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak has resulted in at least 57 hospitalizations and nine deaths in 18 states since it was first reported by the CDC on July 19. Those cases now include nine deaths in South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York.

The United States National Institutes of Health has confirmed that this is the largest outbreak of listeriosis since the cantaloupe-linked outbreak in 2011.

The agency urged citizens to exercise extreme caution regarding the outbreak, saying, “Everyone should check their homes for any Boar’s Head products that have been recalled, as they may have a long shelf life. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612″ within the USDA inspection mark on product labels. Some of the products are sold through October 2024.”

Listeria infection: symptoms, source

According to the CDC, Listeria is a hardy germ that can survive on surfaces like meat slicers and food even at refrigerator temperatures. Some people may not experience symptoms of listeriosis for up to 10 weeks.

Listeria can cause serious illness (called invasive listeriosis) if the bacteria spread beyond the intestines to other parts of the body.

Pregnant women usually only suffer from fever, fatigue and muscle pain. However, infection with listeria during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births or life-threatening infections in the newborn.

In non-pregnant people, in addition to fever and muscle pain, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions may occur.

Symptoms of severe illness usually begin 1 to 4 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may appear as early as the same day or as late as 70 days.

Prevention:

• Do not consume recalled deli products. Throw them away or contact the stores to arrange a return.
• People at higher risk of contracting listeria, such as pregnant women, people age 65 or older, or people with weakened immune systems, should generally avoid eating meat sliced ​​at the deli counter unless it has been heated to an internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) or until steaming hot just before serving.
• Clean your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced ​​deli meat.
• Call your doctor if you have symptoms of listeria infection and have recently eaten sliced ​​meat at the deli counter.
• Businesses that have received recalled meat should take additional precautions, such as cleaning and sanitizing and discarding opened meats and cheeses in delis. Businesses should also follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in delis.