Food poisoning outbreak linked to deli meat and cheese kills one, causes a woman to miscarry

A multistate food poisoning outbreak linked to deli meats and cheeses has killed one American and caused a pregnant woman to suffer a miscarriage.

There have been 16 total confirmed infections recorded across six states so far and 13 hospitalizations since April last year.

The outbreak is being caused by the bacterial infection listeria — which can often find its way into deli meats when it is spread from equipment in processing facilities.

Pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people are most at risk from the bacteria because of their weakened immune system.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to those vulnerable groups telling them not to eat anything from a deli that isn’t ‘steaming hot’.

The agency recommends heating all deli goods to 165F before eating – to eradicate any potential contamination – even if the food was already hot when purchased. 

Most of the cases have been detected in New York, but Maryland, A, B, C and D have all recorded infections.

It was not revealed where the miscarriage tied to the outbreak occurred. 

The outbreak in New York has been linked back to the  NetCost Market chain of international food stores – but infections in other states could have other sources.

The CDC is advising Americans not to eat deli meat or cheese unless it has been reheated to at least 165F.

Listeria is a bacterial infection that causes illness in 1,600 Americans each year. 

An estimated 250 will die from it each year, with the elderly, pregnant and immunocompromised at most risk.

Cases were sporadically detected by US health officials over the last 18 months during this recent outbreak. 

WHAT IS LISTERIOSIS?

Most people that catch listeriosis, caused by bacteria called listeria, will only experience mild symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

Other symptoms of the infection can include a high temperature of 38C or above, aches and pains, and chills, according to the NHS.

Listeria monocytogenes (stock) as found in the pre-packaged food sold at hospitals

However, more serious complications can develop in those with weakened immune systems, babies, the elderly and pregnant women.

Many foods can harbour listeria, but it is usually found in unpasteurised milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as prepacked sandwiches. 

Listeria is widespread in the environment and can be found in raw food and soil, and in the droppings of many mammals, birds, and fish.

Around 180 cases of listeriosis are confirmed every year in England, according to figures. It strikes around 850 annually in the US.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID LISTERIOSIS?

• wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• wash fruit and vegetables before eating them
• store ready-to-eat foods as recommended by the manufacturer
• make sure all hot food is steaming hot all the way through

The first was recorded on April 17, 2021, with the latest on September 29, 2022.

Infections were spread out across the country. Along with New York and Maryland, two cases were detected in Illinois and Massachusetts with one each in California and New Jersey. 

Ages of those involved in the outbreak span from 38 to 92 years old. A nearly two-thirds are male and they have a median age of 74.

Older people are generally considered to be at higher risk from the illness, the CDC warns.

Almost a dozen, 11, are of Eastern European background or speak Russian. 

The CDC warns that there were likely many other cases in-between, but a majority of adults weather the sickness at home without seeking medical attention.

As a result, they will never test positive for the disease and get added into official case totals.

Investigators tied some of the cases to two New York City NetCost stores.

Environmental samples from a store in Brooklyn came back positive for the bacteria. Several open meat packages were also positive.

NetCost Market closed the locations in September 2021 after being notified of the samples by New York City officials.

It reopened after a deep cleaning, after which no positive samples for the bacteria were found.

Samples taken from the same deli in September 2022 came back positive for the strain causing the outbreak again. The store underwent another deep cleaning and has since tested negative.

Salami purchased at a second NetCost location on Staten Island also was positive for the virus.

NetCost did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment. 

The exact source of the infections in other states was not revealed by CDC officials, but the agency is also tying them to deli meats and cheeses.

This is the second outbreak of listeria tied to cheese products reported by the CDC in recent weeks.

In September, the agency reported that an outbreak of six cases that have occurred since 2017 were caused by contamination of Old Europe Cheese, Inc products.

The Michigan-based firm supplies cheese to 25 brands, and include products sold in Giant, Whole Foods and Lidl packaging.

The disease is normally picked up from eating food that has been contaminated — such as raw vegetables, meat and unpasteurized milk — with the microbial bacteria.

But in rare cases it can also be picked up from close contact with farm animals.

Patients who have Listeria in their intestines can suffer diarrhea and vomiting, with symptoms beginning within 24 hours of catching it.

But in cases where the bacteria spreads to the rest of the body it can trigger fever, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches.

The CDC reports that up to a third of people infected will die of the disease in any given year, with older people and those with a weakened immune system at higher risk.