Touting this as the “deadliest” listeria outbreak in recent history, FoxNews.com put the Listeriosis multi-state outbreak as its headlining piece in today’s news. The CDC is reporting over 70 illnesses and 13 reported deaths from Listeria monocytogenes contracted from tainted cantaloupes. Confirmed Listeria associated deaths have occurred in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Maryland and New Mexico. The source of the outbreak-producing cantaloupes, Jensen Farms in Colorado, was discovered through Food and Drug Administration investigations in conjunction with state and local officials.
Listeria-related illnesses can hit the elderly very hard. Younger, healthy individuals can experience little to no symptoms associated with Listeria contact. Because However, Listeria can kill or severely injure an unborn child, making pregnant women are highly susceptible to Listeria. According to the FoxNews.com report, one of the most dangerous things about Listeria is that a person can fall ill weeks after consuming the tainted food. Therefore, victim counts are likely to continue to rise.
We will continue to follow this story and keep you posted.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
