One person has died and 22 others have been hospitalized in the U.S. due to a outbreak of listeria linked to Florida but discovered in 10 states. All of the patients either reside in or traveled to Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that cases have been reported in Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kansas, Illinois ,Georgia . New York ,Massachusetts and – of course – Florida. Florida Investigators have yet to determine what food may have spread the bacteria over a span of 18 months. “A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak,” the CDC said, noting the illnesses started on dates ranging from Jan. 24, 2021, through June 12, 2022.
Listeria, one of the most dangerous forms of food poisoning, is a potentially deadly bacterial illness which can cause fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea within two weeks of eating contaminated food including hot dogs, unpasteurized milk, raw vegetables, melons and some processed meats. It can be severe for pregnant women, older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Infection can also occur through contact with animals and pests and insufficient cleaning of contaminated fruit and unclean hands. Listeria is one of the few pathogens that can grow in the refrigerator. Listeria can be treated with antibiotics.Some people recover without medical care. CDC needs public help to clarify what food caused the listeria outbreak.
