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Death toll climbs to 28 in Listeria outbreak

As of October 25, the CDC reported 133 illnesses, one miscarriage and 28 deaths across 26 states from the Listeria outbreak.

The CDC continues to recommend not to consume Rocky Ford region cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Colorado. Investigations thus far have revealed that the outbreak appeared to have been caused by unsanitary conditions at the Jensen Farms facility. However, cantaloupes that did not come from Jensen Farms are safe to consume, according to CDC officials.

“If consumers are uncertain about the source of a cantaloupe for purchase, they should ask the grocery store. A cantaloupe purchased from an unknown source should be discarded: when in doubt, throw it out,” accoridng to officials.

Deaths attributed to Listeria have been identified in Colorado (7), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (2), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (5), New York (2), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2) and Wyoming (1). All deaths ranged in age from 48 to 96 years, according to the CDC.

In a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC officials said “there are several unusual features about this outbreak. First, this is the first listeriosis outbreak associated with melon. Second, four widely differing Pulsed field gel electrophoresis pattern combinations and two serotypes have been associated with the outbreak. Third, this outbreak is unusually large; only two US listeriosis outbreaks, one associated with frankfurters (n=108) and one with Mexican-style cheese, have had more cases. Fourth, this outbreak has the highest number of deaths of any US foodborne outbreak since a listeriosis outbreak in 1998.”

Although the farm issued a voluntary recall of its cantaloupe on September 14, the FDA said during a news conference that more cases are likely to emerge because of the long incubation period — ranging from 3 to 70 days.

For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cantaloupes-jensen-farms/index.html.

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