More than Dozen Deaths in Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak
More than a dozen people have died from possible listeria outbreak that has been linked to Colorado cantaloupes. If these estimates prove accurate, this outbreak will be the most deadly in the last 10 years.
The CDC said last week that more than 50 people have been sickened and 8 deaths have been traced to the cantaloupe listeria outbreak. Since then, state and local health departments in 4 other states have reported six additional deaths that may be linked to the outbreak.
The contaminated fruit has been traced to Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado, which recalled the contaminated cantaloupes in early September. The FDA reportedly has found listeria in samples of Jensen Farms’ cantaloupes taken from a Colorado store and on samples taken directly from the farm’s packing facility. Tests confirmed that the samples matched strains of the disease found in victims around the country.
According to the CDC:
In the United States, an estimated 1,600 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 260 die. The following groups are at increased risk:
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one in six (17%) cases of listeriosis occurs during pregnancy.
- Newborns: Newborns suffer the most serious effects of infection in pregnancy.
- Persons with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain diseases, therapies, or medications.
- Persons with cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, liver or kidney disease.
- Persons with AIDS: They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.
- Older adults
Healthy children and adults occasionally get infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
If you or someone you love has been sickened or died as a result of consuming fruit contaminated by Listeria, it is important that you contact a New Jersey Food Poisoning Attorney immediately. Contact us for a FREE consulation today.