Connecticut Resident Dies In Multi-State Listeria Outbreak: Health Officials

The Connecticut Department of Public Health announced Thursday it has been involved with an investigation concerning a multi-state outbreak of six confirmed cases of Listeria monocytogenes, including one reported case where a Connecticut resident died.

The outbreak was likely traced back to Ouleout cheese from Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York, and cheese from Vulto was sold at Whole Foods in Fairfield, state health officials said. Whole Foods has begun its own recall, officials added. It's also possible that some specialty shops in Connecticut also sold the cheese, health officials stated.

Patients sickened in this outbreak were reported from Connecticut, Florida, New York and Vermont and range in age from 0 to 89, Connecticut health officials said. Two of the six cases have died, including a Connecticut resident.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local officials, has identified the Ouleout cheese from Vulto Creamery as the likely cause of the outbreak, officials said in a news release.

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Vulto Creamery began contacting its customers to return any purchased Ouleout cheese on March 3 after being informed of a positive Ouleout cheese sample and subsequently issued a formal recall including their Miranda, Heinennelli and Willowemoc cheeses as well, officials said in a statement. These soft, raw-milk cheeses were distributed nationwide, with most being sold at retail locations in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, California, Chicago, Portland and Washington, D.C.

The Department of Public Health is aware that Whole Foods grocery in Connecticut had received cheese from Vulto for retail sales in its Fairfield location and has initiated its own recall, health officials said. FDA is currently collecting additional distribution information from the creamery. Specialty cheese shops in Connecticut that carry Vulto Creamery cheeses may have received recalled product and should check their inventory.

"Retailers and customers who have recalled cheese in their establishments or homes should throw the cheese away and not consume or sell it," the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a news release. "Display cases or refrigerators where potentially contaminated product was stored should be washed and sanitized, as well as any cutting boards or cheese knives used to cut, serve, or store the product. Hands should be washed with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitization process."

Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills while pregnant after eating any of the recalled products, should seek medical care, health officials said.

Symptoms can appear from a few days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated food. Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor and serious illness or death in newborn babies, health officials said.

Further updates will be made publicly available as the investigation proceeds, state health officials pledged.