NBC News
Six more people have died and more than a dozen have been sickened in a multistate listeria outbreak stemming from Boar’s Head brand meat products, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
The total death toll now stands at nine. A total of 57 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak, which the CDC considers the largest outbreak of listeriosis since 2011, when more than 30 people died from cantaloupes infected with the bacteria.
On July 25, Boar’s Head recalled its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst over concerns that it contained the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The meat was produced at its facility in Jarratt, Virginia.
The recall was expanded days later to include seven million pounds of meat the company said came from that facility.
“Food safety is our top priority“and the health and well-being of our consumers is paramount,” Boar’s Head said in an Aug. 15 notice. “We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on the affected families. Words cannot fully express our condolences and the sincere and profound grief we feel for those who have suffered loss or illness.”
The deaths occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia. The patients ranged in age from 32 to 94, with an average age of 77.
Data shows that sliced meats from deli stores, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, were contaminated with listeria. According to the CDC, the bacteria spreads easily on deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. Refrigeration does not kill the bacteria.
Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and diarrheaaccording to the Mayo Clinic. If listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms may include a stiff neck, headache and loss of balance. Listeria can be very serious for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and people over age 65.
