At least nine people have died in the United States after contracting listeria from Boar’s Head deli meats, ABC News reported, citing a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A total of 57 people have been hospitalized following an outbreak of listeriosis caused by contaminated Boar’s Head deli meats, according to updated data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first cases were reported in late May and continued to be reported through August, the agency said in a statement.
This is the largest outbreak of listeriosis in the United States since 2011.
Listeria is a hardy bacteria that can survive and even thrive in cold refrigerator temperatures and make people sick. The infection can be difficult to detect because symptoms can appear quickly or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. Listeria poisoning is especially dangerous for older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
