Listeriosis outbreak linked to processed meats leaves two dead, two dozen hospitalized | U.S. Health

At least two people have died and more than two dozen have been hospitalized following an outbreak of listeria food poisoning linked to sliced ​​meat in grocery store deli sections, federal health officials said Friday.

At least 28 people in a dozen states have been infected, but the largest number, seven, are in New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The deceased were from Illinois and New Jersey. Samples were collected from May 29 to July 5, and so far, everyone known to have been involved in the outbreak has been hospitalized.

Many people affected by the outbreak have reported eating sliced ​​meats from deli aisles. So far, there has been no information that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats, the CDC said. People have most commonly reported eating sliced ​​turkey, liverwurst and ham from delis, officials said.

The CDC does not have enough information to determine which processed meats are causing the outbreak.

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches, and fatigue and can cause neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Symptoms may appear quickly or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.

The infections are particularly dangerous for people over 65, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women, who can miscarry. The outbreak is affecting people ages 32 to 94, with a median age of 75. One pregnant woman became ill but continued her pregnancy, authorities said.