9 deaths linked to Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak

( NewsNation ) — The largest food poisoning outbreak in 13 years has led to nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday.

The agency reported six new deaths in Florida, New Mexico, New York and South Carolina. The CDC announced additional deaths earlier this month in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.

The outbreak is the largest of its kind since a 2011 breakout linked to cantaloupe. So far, officials have recalled 7 million pounds of  Boar’s Head products made at a plant in Virginia. The recall impacts pre-packaged poultry and meat, including those intended for slicing at deli counters.

The CDC is urging people to check their homes for potentially recalled Boar’s Head products, which may have a long shelf life. Recalled items will have “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” printed on the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inspection marks on product labels. Some products have sell-by dates into October 2024.

Listeria is bacteria that can contaminate many foods and infect the people who eat them. Infection can cause severe illness if it spreads to parts of the body other than the gut, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of severe illness, including headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches, commonly present themselves one to four weeks after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms may arise the same day or up to 70 days later in some cases.

Pregnant people tend to experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. Infection during pregnancy can be serious and potentially lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to the CDC.

Those who are at a higher risk for getting sick with listeria, including people who are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system, should generally avoid eating meat that was sliced at a deli counter. Consumption may be safe for at-risk people if the meat is first heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until it’s steaming.

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