Listeria Outbreak: 1 Dead, 22 Hospitalized, Including 1 In GA: CDC

GEORGIA — One person in Illinois has died and nearly two dozen people in several states, including Georgia, have been hospitalized in a Listeria outbreak, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly all of the people who have been infected either live in Florida or were visiting about a month before they got sick, according to the CDC. Twenty-three people have reported illnesses from 10 states and 22 have been hospitalized, health officials said. One died in Illinois from Listeria. A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak.

Of the 23 patients, 12 live in Florida and two each live in New York and Massachusetts. Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey each have one Listeria case. Health officials warned that the outbreak might not be limited to these states because some people recover from Listeria without treatment or testing.

The illnesses date back to January 2021, but have increased in frequency with 16 cases since the beginning of 2022, according to the CDC.

Those most at-risk of severe illness from Listeria include pregnant people, the 65 and up age group and others with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include headaches, fever, muscle aches, stiffness in the neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. During pregnancy, Listeria can cause a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or health complications for the baby.

Five people got sick during their pregnancy, and one illness resulted in a fetal loss, according to the CDC. Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

Symptoms of severe illness usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after, health officials said.

People who have Listeria symptoms, especially those in high-risk groups, are urged to report them to a healthcare provider.