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CDC, state and local health
departments, and the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have been
investigating an outbreak of listeriosis primarily affecting
persons in the northeastern United States. Thus far, 53 ill
persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria
have been identified since mid-July; most were hospitalized,
eight have died, and three pregnant women have had
miscarriages or stillbirths. Epidemiologic data indicate
that precooked, sliceable turkey deli meat is the cause of
this outbreak.
As part of the ongoing
outbreak investigation, USDA-FSIS has been investigating
turkey processing plants. Listeria bacteria have been
found in turkey products and environmental samples from two
plants:
-- Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation, located in Franconia, Pennsylvania.
-- Jack Lambersky Poultry
Company, located in Camden, New Jersey.
Pregnant women, older
adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at
higher risk for listeriosis. If you are in a high-risk
group, have eaten the contaminated product, and within a
month become ill with fever or signs of serious illness, you
should contact your health care provider and inform him or
her about this exposure.
If you have questions
about Listeria, you can call your local or state
health department, your physician, or visit the CDC web site
at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/listeriosis_g.htm.
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