Deadly Listeria Outbreak Hits California; Linked To Deli Meat, Cheese

CALIFORNIA — An outbreak of food poisoning tied to deli products in California and five other states has killed one person and sickened 16 others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

Most of the people sickened were hospitalized and one person lost a pregnancy due to food poisoning, according to the CDC officials. Many reported eating meat or cheese from deli counters where investigators detected listeria in open packages of sliced meats and in the environment.

Those sickened were from New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey and California. The death was reported in Maryland, the CDC said.

The people who got sick were between the ages of 38 and 92.

The illnesses date back more than a year to April of 2021. The most recent illness occurred on Sept. 29, the agency said.

"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses," according to the CDC website.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning. It can grow at refrigerator temperatures and causes an illness that most healthy people can survive. However, it can be deadly for people who are at high risk including pregnant women, their unborn babies, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Officials haven't identified the source of the listeria, but there are mysterious clues. Eleven of those who fell ill are of Eastern European background or speak Russian and investigators are trying to figure out why.

The bacteria was found at two NetCost Market locations in New York, but health officials said that's not likely the only source of the listeria outbreak because some sick people didn't shop at the store.

NetCost temporarily closed the deli at its store in the borough of Brooklyn last year after New York health officials notified the company that three people infected with listeria all ate food from there. After a deep cleaning, no listeria was detected. But in September, the outbreak strain was found at the same market.

NetCost did not immediately respond to an email for comment from The Associated Press.

"A contaminated food likely introduced the outbreak strain of listeria into delis in multiple states," the CDC said. "Investigators are working to identify any specific products or delis that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain."

Listeria is a persistent germ that can be hard to get rid of from surfaces and equipment. Symptoms of listeria poisoning include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It is especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

Pregnant people usually experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, the agency said, but listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.

If you experience symptoms, call your health care provider. Symptoms among pregnant women may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

The Food and Drug Administration offers these tips for reducing the risk of food poisoning from listeria:

1. Chill foods at the right temperature to slow the growth of listeria. Your refrigerator should register at 40°F or below and your freezer at 0°F.
2. Use Ready-to-Eat Foods Quickly! Use ready-to-eat, refrigerated foods by the Use By date on the package.
3. Keep the Refrigerator Clean. Clean your refrigerator regularly. Wipe up spills immediately. This is particularly important, so listeria doesn’t have a place to grow and then spread to other foods. Clean the inside walls and shelves with hot water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent, rinse, then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.