A Listeria outbreak has now infected 23 people throughout in 10 various states. One person from Illinois has died as a result. All but one of the individuals had to be hospitalized, states the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency reported that Listeria is a sickness that usually affects pregnant women, newborns, other adults, and people with weakened immune systems. It is unusual for those who aren’t in one of these groups to get the illness. To add, antibiotics are used if a person is infected.
Symptoms are different, depending on the person and where they have been affected in their body. A small percentage of cases can lead to a fever or diarrhea.
For those with severe cases, they may experience invasive listeriosis which means bacteria extends pass the gut. If a woman is pregnant, she may experience muscle aches and fatigue. Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions are also symptoms.
Although it usually doesn’t cause major symptoms in pregnant women, Listeria can cause fetuses and newborn babies to become very sick. It can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in a newborn.
During the recent outbreak, five pregnant women became ill and suffered a miscarriage.
For people who are 65 or older, they could develop an infection in the bloodstream or brain. They may also experience problems with their joints, bones, chest, and abdomen.
Listeria outbreaks are almost always related to food contamination products. The CDC hasn’t validated where the outbreak started. However, almost all of the people who had gotten sick reside in or had gone to Florida about a month prior to becoming ill. It’s uncertain if that is a coincidence.
