Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meats and Cheeses: What Pregnant Women Need to Know

2022-11-14 15:30:22 By : Ms. Elizabeth Wu

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Pregnant women should take special care ordering from deli counters and cleaning their kitchens due to an ongoing listeria outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday. Sliced meats and cheeses contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes have sickened 16 people across six states, and 13 of them required hospitalization. The true number of cases is likely higher than the reported total, the CDC added.

Here's what we know about the outbreak so far, including how you can protect yourself and your little one during your pregnancy. 

Federal investigators have identified deli meats — cold cuts, lunch meats, hot dogs and pâtés sold at the deli — as the likely source of this particular listeria outbreak. Reported cases have occurred in New York, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois and California. 

A contaminated product possibly introduced this particular strain to delis in different states, but authorities have not identified or recalled any specific foods. Listeria can easily live for a long time in restaurant display cases and on kitchen equipment, and then spread onto food. 

Pregnant women, people over the age of 65 and those with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to falling ill from listeria. In fact, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to get listeriosis — the illness caused by the bacteria — than the rest of the population, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states.

Contracting listeriosis can pose serious risks for a pregnancy. Potential symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and the infection can cause lifelong health problems for babies as well as complications like preterm labor.

You can protect yourself and your baby-to-be from listeria by taking certain precautions recommended by the CDC and ACOG:

Listeriosis symptoms can appear as late as two months after eating a contaminated food. While it's still unlikely that you'll get sick, it's good to idea to know the following signs: 

If you suspect you may have listeriosis, call your doctor ASAP. Your health care provider can do a simple blood test to check for the infection, and prescribe antibiotics if needed to treat you and protect your baby. 

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