2 dead, 28 hospitalized from listeria outbreak linked to deli meat in 12 states

Two people in the U.S. have died and 28 people have been hospitalized from a multi-state outbreak of listeria linked to sliced deli meat, federal health officials announced on Friday.

A dozen states in the Midwest and East Coast reported people recently became ill from listeria, a bacteria that causes potentially foodborne illnesses and is especially concerning during pregnancy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release. The deaths occurred in Illinois and New Jersey. New York has had seven cases, the most of any state, CDC data showed.

The sick people’s samples were collected between May 29 and July 5. In interviews, 16 of 18 sick people said they ate meats sliced at deli counters – most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham, the CDC said. The CDC is currently investigating which types of meat may be contaminated. There is no evidence that prepackaged deli meats made people sick with the disease, CDC said.

People at higher risk of getting sick from listeria should avoid eating meats sliced at deli counters unless they heat those meats to 165 degrees, or until they’re steaming hot, the CDC said.

Listeria can cause severe illness when the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body. It’s particularly concerning for pregnant women because it can cause miscarriages. Other symptoms in pregnant people include fever, fatigue and muscle aches.

Anyone exposed to the disease can experience a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, as well as fever and muscle aches.

Symptoms usually begin a week to four weeks after a person eats contaminated food, but they can start as early as the same day or up to 70 days after.

If you believe you have symptoms of listeria and recently have recently eaten sliced deli meat, the CDC recommends contacting your health provider.