Nine Deaths Now Linked to Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak

The listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meat products has now resulted in nine deaths, with 57 people hospitalized across 18 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday. It's now the most widespread listeria outbreak in the United States in more than a decade.

Boar's Head initially issued a recall of over 7 million pounds of products that had been processed at a Jarratt, VA facility last month, after a sample of liverwurst tested positive for the bacteria. Between May and mid-July, the outbreak was tied to 34 people who became ill across 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths.

According to the New York Times, six new deaths emerged over the past three weeks with fatal cases stemming from Florida, Tennessee, New York, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Though, the CDC said that the actual number of cases could be higher than what's been reported as some people may have experienced milder cases and were not tested for listeria. It can also take up to 10 weeks for patients to experience symptoms, which may have also have affected the number of cases.

The recall included 71 ready-to-eat products produced under both the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names between May 10 and July 29, including liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna; primarily affecting products that are sliced at the deli counter. Consumers are being told to check any Boar's Head products that read “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Contaminated products may also have sell-by dates of October 2024.

Listeria infections can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, headaches, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms are other possible symptoms. Those who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems may also be at higher risk for serious infection.

The latest is the largest listeria outbreak since 2011, when at least 13 people across eight states died eating contaminated cantaloupe grown by a company in Colorado.