A listeria outbreak has swept across 6 states. Here are the symptoms to watch out for

Seven infections took place in New York; three in Maryland, where one person died; two in Massachusetts; one in Illinois; one in New Jersey and one in California.

Those infected ranged in age from 38 to 92 years old, with a median age of 74 and the majority being male. Of the 13 people with ethnicity information available, 11 have Eastern European backgrounds or speak Russian. Thirteen of the 14 people with information available have been hospitalized and one person became sick during pregnancy, which resulted in a miscarriage.

State and local public health officials reported that out of the 12 people interviewed, 11 people reported eating meat or cheese from deli counters, CDC says. Five of the seven sick people in New York bought sliced deli meat or cheese from at least NetCost Market. Deli meats and cheeses were also purchased from other delis by sick people.

The CDC estimates the exact number of people sick from this outbreak may be higher than the number reported as some people are able to recover without medical care and aren’t tested for listeria. Additionally, reports typically take three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. Roughly 1,600 people get listeria every year in the United States.

What is listeria?

Listeria, also known as listeriosis, is a serious infection typically caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Who is most likely to get sick from listeria?

Pregnant people and their newborns; adults 65 and older; and people with weakened immune symptoms are most at risk of listeria infection.

What are symptoms of listeria?

There are two types of listeria infections: invasive illness, which means bacteria has spread beyond the intestines, and intestinal illness. Whereas invasive illness typically starts within two weeks of eating food contaminated with listeria, intestinal illness usually starts within 24 hours after eating contaminated food and lasts one to three days.

Symptoms of invasive illness for people who are pregnant include:

• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue. 

People who are not pregnant may experience the same symptoms, as well as:

• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Seizures

Symptoms of intestinal illness include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

How is listeria diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis typically happens when a “bacterial culture grows listeria from a body tissue of fluid, such as blood, spinal fluid, or the placenta,” according to the CDC.

Those with an invasive illness, which means infection has spread beyond the intestines, are treated with antibiotics. Those with an intestinal illness, which is rare, recover without antibiotics and should drink extra fluids while recovering from diarrhea.

What should I do if I suspect I ate food that may have been contaminated with listeria?

If you have a fever or any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should seek medical care right away. If, however, you ate food that may have been contaminated with listeria but you do not feel seek, you will likely not need to undergo tests or treatments. In either case, you should contact your medical provider regarding next steps after eating possibly contaminated food.

How can I prevent listeria infection?

Follow food safety guidelines for risky foods, including soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melons, hot dogs, lunch meats, cold cuts, smoked fish and unpasteurized milk, especially if you or a loved one are more likely to get a listeria infection.

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