CDC Warns of Multi-State Listeria Outbreak Linked to Sliced Deli Meats

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about a multi-state Listeria monocytogenes outbreak connected to deli meat. Two people have died and at least 28 have been hospitalized across 12 states in connection to the outbreak, the CDC said in an investigation notice shared on Friday. However, the agency said the true number of people impacted is likely much higher. 

Public health officials have been able to interview 18 people who were sickened in the outbreak, per the CDC. Of those, 16 said they had eaten meat from a deli in the month before they developed symptoms. (Worth noting: No one has reported becoming ill after eating packaged deli meat.)

The CDC has not been able to pinpoint exactly what meat is responsible for the outbreak, although most people who became sick said they ate turkey, liverwurst, or ham. While the meat came from a range of grocery store delis, DNA testing revealed that the bacteria that made people sick were genetically similar. 

The outbreak has likely been happening for months, with the first reported illness happening in late May and the most recent reported case happening on July 5, per the CDC. So far, cases have been reported in these states:

• Georgia
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

To date, no recalls have been issued and the investigation is ongoing. 

What is Listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious and potentially deadly infection, according to the CDC. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year and about 260 die from the infection. 

Listeriosis can cause mild to severe illness, with pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems being the most likely to become severely ill, per the CDC. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, and seizures, according to the organization. 

Listeria — a difficult-to-kill bacteria — easily spreads through contaminated foods, including unpasteurized cheeses, deli meats, premade deli salads, raw or lightly cooked sprouts, and cut melons, according to the CDC.

“It is important to note that it can take up to 70 days after exposure to listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop,” say Darin Detwiler, LPD, an associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. That can make tracking the sources of these cases particularly difficult, he says. 

How to lower your risk of listeriosis

The CDC is advising people to avoid eating meats sliced at a deli unless they’re heated before eating. Meaning, you shouldn’t eat deli meat right now unless it’s packaged or heated to a minimum of 165°F. 

If you happen to develop symptoms of listeriosis, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor, particularly if you’re at high risk of developing serious illness.