- Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tracking a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes with an unknown source.
- People who have fallen ill with a Listeria infection recently ate various types of Hispanic-style cheeses, although no brand or type of cheese has been found guilty.
- The number of reported infections is quite small, but all people who have fallen ill with this strain of Listeria have had to be hospitalized.
Often, when a food contamination problem arises, it is immediately clear that there is a single brand or distributor that must be the source. Sometimes, though, people will get sick from the same strain of bacteria despite eating different brands of food, and that makes the FDA work a little harder, which requires more in-depth research to discover the source. of the pollution that sick people are doing.
This is the case with a new FDA investigation into an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections in several U.S. states. So far, researchers believe the problem stems from the consumption of Hispanic-style cheeses, both free and soft varieties, but no brand of cheese like the one that is causing people’s illness has been isolated. The FDA has just launched its investigation, so it may be some time before the source is found, but in the meantime, it’s probably a good idea to avoid the type of food related to the outbreak.
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To date, a total of seven cases of Listeria infection have been linked to this new outbreak. It sounds like a very small number, but the actual number is likely to be higher, as people with milder symptoms may not realize why they are sick or get tested at a hospital or clinic to add the your case in the stack. . In any case, of the seven known cases, all seven had to be hospitalized. Most cases occurred in Maryland (4), but only one case has also been observed in each of the following cases: Connecticut, New York, and Virginia.
The FDA also notes that there appears to be a link between disease and cheese preparation:
The FDA has initiated an investigation and is gathering information to try to determine the origin of the outbreak. Although research is ongoing, CDC epidemiological information analysis indicates that fresh, soft Hispanic-style cheeses are the main hypotheses for the cause of the diseases. No specific type or brand of cheese has been confirmed as a source of disease. CDC reported that seven people infected with the Listeria monocytogenes strain have been reported in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Virginia. Six of the seven patients are Hispanic. Of the four people interviewed, three reported eating at least one type of fresh, soft Hispanic-style cheese, and all three reported eating fresh cheese.
Listeria infections can be incredibly severe. Symptoms usually include headaches, body aches, fever, and even more severe symptoms such as seizures and confusion. The FDA urges the public to avoid fresh, soft Hispanic-style cheeses that do not use pasteurized milk. It is still possible for pasteurized milk cheese to spread the disease, but it is generally considered a safer option, especially while the FDA is still investigating the outbreak and trying to find the source.
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Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games over the past decade, addressing the latest developments and trends in VR, portable devices, smartphones and future technology. Most recently, Mike worked as a technical editor at The Daily Dot and has appeared on USA Today, Time.com and countless other web and print outlets. His love of reporting is only second to his addiction to games.