Listeriosis
Health Officials are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeriosis linked to whole cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado. Consumers who want to reduce their risk of Listeria infection should avoid eating Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms. For developing outbreak information, please click here.
What is listeriosis?
Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults under age 60 rarely develop this illness.
What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms associated with listeriosis may vary with the infected person. Healthy adults and children typically will not develop a serious illness. The symptoms may include fever, chills, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. On average, symptoms appear within 72 hours after exposure. Elderly persons or persons with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe disease due to listeriosis; these persons may develop meningitis and experience sudden fever, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, mental confusion, and coma. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
How do you get listeriosis?
Individuals typically become infected after eating or drinking contaminated foods. Outbreaks of listeriosis have been linked to drinking unpasteurized "raw" milk and soft cheeses, contaminated produce, and ready-to-eat deli type meats or cold cuts. Individuals can decrease their risk of Listeria infection by avoiding deli meats unless reheated to an internal temperature of 165 F, refrigerated pâté or meat spreads, refrigerated smoked seafood, and soft cheeses such as queso fresco and brie unless they are made with pasteurized milk.
How great is the risk for listeriosis?
In the United States, an estimated 1,600 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 260 die. The following groups are at increased risk:
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one in six (17%) cases of listeriosis occurs during pregnancy.
- Newborns: Newborns suffer the most serious effects of infection in pregnancy.
- Persons with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain diseases, therapies, or medications.
- Persons with cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, liver or kidney disease.
- Persons with AIDS: They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.
- Older adults
In 2010, there were 9 cases of Listeria reported in the state of Oklahoma. So far this year, 2 cases have been reported in Oklahoma, however, no cases have been reported in Tulsa County.
For more information about listeriosis, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/