Third death linked to Listeria, health officials say

A third person has died after eating food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The latest death is the result of a nationwide outbreak that began in May and was linked to deli-cut meats.

Officials he also said that the number of people sickened after eating food contaminated with the bacteria has risen to 43 since data was last released in slow July. Federal food safety officials have linked the outbreak to Boar’s Head deli meats, and the company recently recalled millions of pounds of the meat.

The Boar’s Head chain, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the third death in Virginia, began recalling its sliced ​​meats in slow July after federal food safety officials announced that a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst sold at a Maryland store tested positive for the same strain of bacteria that causes listeriosis.

On July 30, Boar’s Head recalled seven million pounds of meat, following an earlier, more restricted recall. The recall covers more than 70 products — including ham, beef and poultry — that were produced at the Virginia plant.

The other two people who died in the epidemic lived in Novel Jersey and Illinois.

In a statement posted on the Boar’s Head website on July 30, the company said: “No words can fully express our sympathy or the honest and deep pain we feel for the losses of loved ones and the illnesses of others.”

Boar’s Head faces at least three lawsuits over the outbreak, including: New York, Missouri AND WisconsinPeople have reported cases in 13 states: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Novel Jersey, Novel York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Every year about 1600 people Listeria infections are on the rise in the U.S., according to the CDC About 260 of those cases are fatal, according to Laura Gieraltowski, an epidemiologist with the CDC’s Outbreak Response and Prevention Division. Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the CDC

Listeria bacteria, which occur naturally in soil, can contaminate a wide range of foods, from dairy products like cheese and ice cream to green leafy vegetables and fruits like cantaloupe. Most people who eat Listeria monocytogenes bacteria do not get ailing, but some high-risk people, including pregnant women and people over 65 or with weakened immune systems, can become seriously ill.

The Virginia Department of Health has he said on his website that it is working with the CDC to monitor the epidemic and has common instructions how to report a suspected foodborne illness.