6 more deaths reported in multi-state listeria outbreak
By: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
USA Today
..... Six more deaths and 14 new hospitalizations have been reported as a result of the Boar's Head multi-state listeria outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control said Wednesday. [08/28/2024]
.....
Listerine infections from the recalled deli meat have caused at least 57 hospitalizations, including nine deaths, across 18 states since the CDC investigation began on July 19, [2024] according to health officials.
..... These numbers are up from an August 8 [2024] report that counted 43 hospitalizations, including three deaths, across 13 states.
..... The ages of the sick people range between 32 and 94, with the median being 75, CDC data showed. The nine deaths occurred in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and South Carolina.
..... Of the six new deaths, one occurred in Florida, one in Tennessee, one in New Mexico, one in New York and two in south Carolina. Infections also appeared in five additional states since early August, [2024] including Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee.
..... Boar's Head has recalled 71 products since July 26, [2024] to about 7.2 million pounds of deli meats. The brand is also facing at least one class-action lawsuit as of early August. [2024] The family of one victim, an 88-eyar-old Holocaust survivor form Virginia, previously spoke to USA Today about his death and plans to take legal action.
..... In a July 30 [2024] statement form the company, Boar's Head said that it initiated the expanded recall of all products produced at its facility in Jarratt, Virginia, after it learned that its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst had been linked to the national listeria outbreak.
.....
Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a forborne bacterial infection that can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant people.
..... According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, diarrhea, other gastrointestinal symptoms, miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infant, as well as death of the infected person.
..... People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about eating the contaminated food, according to the USDA.
..... Specific tails of the Boar's Head Ready-to-Eat liverwurst products recalled include:
* Made between June 11 and July 17 [2024] and have a 44-day shelf life.
* "Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst made in Virginia."
* 3.5 pound loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis.
* Sell-by-dates range from July 25 to August 30. [2024]
..... Boar's Head also recalled all deli products, including prepackaged deli products. Look for "EST. 12612" or "P-12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.