One person in Wisconsin has been hospitalized as part of a multi-state listeria outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multi-state outbreak of listeria, linked to sliced deli meat that has killed two people and hospitalized 28 others, including one case in Wisconsin.

The CDC reported that the outbreak has impacted people across 12 states. The deaths occurred in Illinois and New Jersey.

States hardest hit were New York, which reported seven cases and six cases in Maryland. Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia each reported two cases while Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each reported one case.

Here's what we know so far about the outbreak.

The listeria outbreak seems to be linked to meat sliced at deli counters, CDC says

The investigation revealed the majority of people sickened in the outbreak told the CDC that they had eaten meat sliced at deli counters. The agency did not receive any reports of people becoming ill after eating prepackaged deli meats.

Samples from sick people were collected from May 29 to July 5. The ages of the sick people range between 32 and 94 with the median being 75, CDC data showed.

“Of the 18 people able to be interviewed, 16 (89%) reported eating meats sliced at a deli, most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham,” the CDC said in the release. “Meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis.”

Where was the listeria case in Wisconsin?

It's unclear. The CDC did not provide specific information about the Wisconsin case. The person who contracted listeria in Wisconsin has been hospitalized.

The USDA-FSIS is working to identify the suppliers of the meats sliced at deli counters during the outbreak.

What is listeria and how does is spread?

Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women, people older than 65 and people with weakened immune system.

According to the CDC, listeria spreads easily across deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. Refrigeration does not kill listeria, but heating meat to a high enough temperature before eating it will kill any germs that may be present.

What are the risks and symptoms of listeria?

Symptoms typically start a week to four weeks after eating contaminated food, or may start as early as the same day or up to 70 days after consuming the deli meat. According to the CDC, people who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches and fatigue. They may also experience a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or seizures. Pregnant women may also experience similar symptoms, however listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.

Those who believe they are sick with listeriosis are asked to contact local or health officials to aid in identifying the specific deli products causing the illness. Health officials will ask what was eaten in the month before they were sickened, and may also ask for copies of receipts, your shopper card number, or leftover food for testing.

Contact Colleen Kottke at 920-517-2653 or ckottke@gannett.com . Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @ColleenKottke .

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: One person in Wisconsin has been hospitalized as part of a multi-state listeria outbreak