A recent listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meats has resulted in one infant's death in California and the sickness of nine others across California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey, CBS News reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that the actual number of cases may be higher, as some may not have gotten tested. This comes as particularly worrying news as this bacteria can be more harmful to certain populations, including pregnant people, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Yu Shang Food Inc., a company based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has been identified as the source of the outbreak, with its meat products containing listeria monocytogenes, as cited by a USDA inspection on October 21, NBC News indicates. Following the tragic passing of an infant, whom the CDC identified as a twin with another sibling who also passed away but not from listeria, the company issued a recall on November 9 and expanded it later. Various products such as pork hock, chicken feet, and beef shank are part of the recall.
Investigators have tracked down the genetic sequence of the listeria strain and have pinned it to the Yu Shang Food products. "This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food," the CDC explained, as stated by NBC News. The CDC also emphasized the resilience of listeria, noting it can survive in refrigerators and spread to other items, necessitating a thorough cleaning of any surfaces that might have come into contact with the contaminated products.
Per the symptoms listed by the CDC, listeriosis can manifest as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions and typically should prompt immediate medical attention. Pregnant women, in particular, have a higher risk of serious complications such as preterm delivery or severe infection in newborns. The affected products from Yu Shang Food can be identified by establishment numbers “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” and were all produced before October 28, NBC News noted.
