death in NY – Telemundo New York (47)

NEW YORK – A New Yorker is among those killed in connection to an outbreak of listeria from Boar’s Head sausages sold in US deliswhich has left nine people dead and nearly 60 people hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the last update in early August, the CDC said 14 more people have become ill as a result of listeria linked to the Boar’s Head brand of deli meats. As of Wednesday, 57 people had been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak.

Of the deaths reported so far, two have been in the tri-state area: one New York resident and one New Jersey resident.

The New York State Department of Health said in a statement that it was investigating 17 cases of listeria across the state. Of those 17, eight were in New York City, two each in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, and one in Dutchess County, the Health Department said. The rest of the cases were in Cayuga, Greene, Onondaga and Oswego counties in New York.

“All infected people that we currently have information on have been hospitalized. One death has been reported in New York. To protect the privacy of the family, we cannot release any further information,” the Department statement said. the Health reading.

No further details were available on the death in New Jersey, and no information was provided on the person’s identity.

The six newly reported deaths include two from South Carolina and one each from Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico, according to the CDC. Two other previously reported deaths were from Illinois and Virginia.

The CDC said the listeria outbreak is the largest since a 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

Boar’s Head expanded its recall in July to include an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products at a plant in Virginia while the investigation continues. These include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia plant.

The CDC advised everyone to check for Boar’s Head products left at their homes, especially since they may have a longer shelf life. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA inspection mark on product labels; Some products affected by the recall may have expiration dates as late as October 2024.

Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent contamination from other foods. Any recalled products can be returned to stores for a refund, company officials said.

Where can I see the recalled products?

Click here to see the full list of recalled products.

When the disease began to be reported

The first cases of illness were reported between the end of May and the middle of July, but they have continued until the end of August.

The problem was discovered when a sample of liverwurst collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Later experiments showed that it is the same type of bacteria that causes illness in humans.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility,” said the company on its website. It has also stopped production of ready-to-eat foods at the plant.

The meat was distributed to stores across the country, as well as the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, Department of Agriculture officials said.

About 1,600 people get listeria poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC.

How does listeria get into sausages?

Listeria bacteria thrive in moist environments, such as soil, water, and decaying vegetation, and some animals carry it. These germs are often spread when food is harvested, processed, transported or stored in places contaminated with the bacteria. Once the bacteria enters a food processing plant, it can be difficult to eradicate.

Many of the people affected by the outbreak said they were eating sliced ​​meat at supermarket deli counters. During the investigation, listeria was found in an unopened stick of Boar’s Head liverwurst at a store in Maryland; The Department of Agriculture said subsequent tests showed the same stress caused illness in humans.

How does listeria make people sick?

People get listeria poisoning when they eat foods contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms can be mild and include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More serious symptoms may include headache, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.

Listeria poisoning is complicated, because symptoms can start quickly, within a few hours or days after eating contaminated food. But they can also take weeks or up to three months to appear.

Among the people most vulnerable to getting sick are very young people, people over 65, and people with weak immune systems or who are pregnant.

Symptoms of listeria

Listeria infections usually cause fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, and can cause a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Symptoms can appear quickly or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. Diseases are especially dangerous for people over 65, those with weak immune systems, and during pregnancy.

Does cooking kill listeria?

Listeria can survive and grow in foods even when they are refrigerated, but the bacteria can be killed by heating foods to a “smoking” temperature, or 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), according to the CDC. People at higher risk of getting sick should avoid the products or heat them before eating.

However, most sausages are eaten cold. Because listeria can survive in refrigeration, it is important to clean and disinfect all surfaces, including refrigerator drawers and shelves, that may have come into contact with the products, according to the CDC. .