Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Found In Ice Cream, Sickens NJ Resident

NEW JERSEY — A deadly listeria outbreak linked to ice cream has sickened one New Jerseyan, according to the CDC. While the impacted brand is only sold in Florida, eight people linked to the outbreak traveled to the Sunshine State in the month before getting sick, the agency says.

As of Tuesday, the CDC has reported 23 people falling ill from listeria, including 22 hospitalized and one death from the outbreak. The cases have been linked to Big Olaf Creamery — a small chain of ice cream parlors in the Sarasota, Florida, area, the CDC says.

Big Olaf Creamery voluntarily contacted retail locations and recommended against selling their ice cream products until further notice. The CDC advised people to clean and disinfect any areas and equipment that may have touched Big Olaf ice cream products, including ice cream scoops and other serving utensils.

Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, the CDC says. Other people can get infected with listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill, according to health officials.

The CDC advises people to call their health care provider if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue and muscle aches. But listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
• People who aren't pregnant may experience headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches.