The final listeriosis outbreak of 2020 is in the books. It was officially declared over on Jan. 28, 2021, after a five-month run. One person died.
Here are the details from the final outbreak report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and New York. One additional confirmed case was added since the previous report.
- All 12 people were hospitalized. One death was reported from Florida.
- Epidemiologic evidence showed that deli meat was the likely source of this outbreak.
- In interviews with 11 ill people, all reported eating Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella and prosciutto. They reported purchasing prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at various locations.
- A specific type of deli meat or a common supplier was not identified.
- Deli meats, also called lunch meat or cold cuts, can have Listeria bacteria. Always follow food safety steps to prevent getting sick from Listeria in deli meats, even when there are no ongoing outbreaks.
October 22, 2020 report
The first report on the outbreak said a total of 10 people were infected with the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes and were from three states. A list of those original states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Map of Reported Cases page.
At that time the agency reported Listeria samples from ill people were collected from Aug. 6, 2020, to Oct. 3, 2020. Ill people ranged in age from 40 to 89 years, with a median age of 81 years. Eighty percent of ill people were female. All 10 ill people were hospitalized as of Oct. 22.
State and local public health officials interviewed ill people about the foods they ate in the month before they became ill. Of the nine people interviewed, all reported eating Italian-style deli meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto. They reported purchasing prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at various locations.
Listeria bacteria can spread easily to other foods and surfaces. The bacteria in a contaminated deli product may spread to other deli meats and cheeses in shared display cases or equipment at deli counters. A traceback investigation is ongoing to determine if there is a specific type of deli meat or a common supplier linked to illness.
People who are higher risk of getting sick from Listeria were advised to avoid eating deli meats unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot just before serving.
December 4, 2020 report
Since the last update on October 23, 2020, one ill person was added to the investigation.
Epidemiologic evidence continued to show that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak.
State and local public health officials interviewed ill people about the foods they ate in the month before they became ill. Of the 10 people interviewed, all reported eating Italian-style deli meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto. They reported purchasing prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at various locations.
Investigators are worked without success to identify a specific type of deli meat or a common supplier linked to the illnesses.
Last year’s only other listeriosis outbreak involved 36 confirmed cases in 17 states with 31 hospitalizations and four deaths.
The culprit in that outbreak was recalled enoki mushrooms that were past their shelf life and should have been removed from the marketplace. That outbreak event was declared over in June.
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