Deli meat contamination becomes largest listeria outbreak since 2011, CDC says

(NEXSTAR) – The sicknesses and deaths linked to a massive contamination of deli meats has become the largest listeria outbreak in 13 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

The agency said 14 more illnesses and five more deaths have been reported since the last update three weeks ago. The total number of people hospitalized is up to 57. Eight people have been killed.

The deadly food poisoning outbreak has led to the recall of more than 7 million pounds of popular Boar’s Head products made at a plant in Virginia. The recall impacts pre-packaged poultry and meat, plus products intended to be sliced at deli counters.

Some of the affected products have sell-by dates into October 2024, so health officials are concerned people may still have them in their homes, unaware of the recall. If you have one of the 71 recalled deli products, you should throw it away or contact the store where you bought it for a refund. (You can look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels to determine if they're recalled.)

Illnesses have been reported across a broader geographic area over the past several weeks. Eighteen states now have confirmed cases: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Death have occurred in six states: Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The last time so many people were sickened by listeria was 2011, according to the CDC, when contaminated cantaloupe caused 147 people to get sick. Thirty-three of them died.

Listeriosis, or listeria infection, can cause mild symptoms for some people (fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), but can grow more serious for others. Severe symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Symptoms can come on quickly, within a few hours or days after eating contaminated food, or take as long as 70 days to appear.

Elderly and pregnant people are at especially high risk. Pregnant people can experience miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or other complications as a result.

Anyone at high risk of listeria complications is advised to heat deli meat until it’s “steaming hot,” or 165 degrees Fahrenheit, before eating to kill any present bacteria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.