Colorado Listeria Outbreak
 

Beginning in August, the Colorado cantaloupe listeria outbreak has made 2011 a record year for listeriosis poisoning, with the most food poisoning fatalities in over a decade.

The listeria outbreak has now killed at least 18 people across the nation. The Centers for Disease Control said 100 people had been sickened in 20 states from the outbreak, which has been traced to cantaloupe shipped from Jensen Farms near Holly, Colorado. For the most recent update from the CDC, visit the Listeriosis web page The update makes it clear that the elderly are being hit the hardest by the infection.

Most of the victims have been over 60, but the ages of the cases matched by DNA so far range from patients aged 35 to 96, with a median age of 79. Listeriosis affects mainly pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with impaired immune systems. Healthy adults and children may be infected with L. monocytogenes, but rarely become seriously ill. A significant risk is posed for pregnant women, the infection can result in miscarriage, premature delivery or even stillbirth. A baby may be born with listeriosis if the mothers ate contaminated food during pregnancy.

The Jensen Farms melons were recalled Sept. 14, when the FDA and state officials pinpointed the source of melons sold to people who became with listeria. However, given that the incubation period for people who ingested the tainted cantaloupe can be up to two months before exhibiting symptoms, the CDC has said it expects cases to continue to appear for several more weeks.

Only the fruit from Jensen Farms appears to be contaminated with listeria, and cantaloupe from other sources appears to be safe. FDA officials are urging consumers not to eat any cantaloupe from Jensen Farms, and to throw away any melons bearing the labels "Colorado Grown," "Distributed by Frontera Produce," "Jensenfarms.com" or "Sweet Rocky Fords." However, caution is advised since not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker.

What is listeriosis?

Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) bacterium. L. monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Unlike many pathogens, listeria can grow well even at refrigerator temperatures. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Investigators have identified four different strains of listeria in the contaminated Jensen cantaloupe and patients; they can match the DNA from patient samples to the tainted melons in order to prove a connection. Click here to learn the symptoms of listeria infection.

What causes listeriosis?

As with most common bacteria strains, L. monocytogenes is found in soil and water, particularly around agricultural areas. Common sources of contamination include:

• Vegetables contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.
• Animals can carry the bacteria, resulting in contaminated meats and dairy products.
• Processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated during processing.
• Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.

Listeria is more deadly than more common pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli. Twenty-one people died in an outbreak of listeria poisoning in 1998 traced to contaminated hot dogs and possibly deli meats made by Bil Mar Foods, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corp. In 1985, listeria killed 52 people and was linked to Mexican-style soft cheese.

Learn the symptoms of listeria, to determine if you should seek medical care.

If you believe you or a loved one has been infected with listeria, learn more about your legal rights.

For further information on your legal options see Listeria Lawsuits.