Los Angeles, Aug 29 (IANS) Eight people have died and over 50 have fallen sick due to Listeria disease in the US, data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed this.
Listeria is a germ that can survive in meat and food even at refrigerator temperatures, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
According to the CDC, symptoms of the disease can take as long as 10 weeks to appear in some people.
Epidemiological, laboratory and traceback data show that the harvested meats, including Boar’s Head brand liver burgers, are contaminated with Listeria and are making people sick.
Listeria spreads easily through everyday equipment, such as hands and food. A total of 57 people have been hospitalised due to Listeria infection and eight deaths have occurred so far.
Those most at risk of getting sick from listeria are pregnant women or people age 65 or older who have a weakened immune system. To prevent this illness, it is recommended to avoid eating cut meat.
The new deaths include two in South Carolina and one each in Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico. There have also been deaths from the outbreak in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.
The Boar’s Head brand has recalled more than 7 million pounds of 71 different meat and poultry products as of July 30, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
–IANS
DKM/SKP
