On February 25, the CDC announced an update to the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak associated with prepackaged Dole salads. There have now been a total of 18 people infected in the outbreak. Nine states have been infected, including Connecticut with 1 case, Indiana with 1 case, Massachusetts with 1 case, Michigan with 4 cases, Missouri with 2 cases, New Jersey with 1 case, New York with 5 cases, Ohio with 2 cases, and Pennsylvania with 1 case. There has been one death reported in Michigan. All 18 people required hospitalization because of their illnesses.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria is incredibly resilient, and can even survive in refrigerated conditions. Because of this, food items contaminated with Listeria should be disposed of immediately. If ingested, a Listeria monocytogenes infection may develop. This infection may take as much as 2 months to produce symptoms. General symptoms of a Listeria infection include fever, nausea, diarrhea, headache, muscle ache, and stiff neck. Those with certain risk factors, such as children, the elderly, those with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women may be more likely to develop a serious infection. If you or a loved one begins to show the symptoms of Listeria poisoning, contact a medical professional.
