CDC Reports Listeria Outbreak Tied to Deli Meat: 2 Fatalities, Multiple Illnesses

At least 28 people have been hospitalized and two have died after eating meat deli meat linked with a Listeria outbreak, according to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many people affected by the outbreak reported eating meat sliced at supermarket deli counters, and there's no indication that pre-packaged deli meat has sickened people. People available for interviews reported eating turkey, liverwurst, and ham.

The illnesses connected with the current outbreak were reported from May 29 to July 5. They occurred in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Most of the hospitalizations occurred in New York, where seven people have been affected, followed by Maryland, where six people became ill. The two deaths linked to the outbreak were reported in Illinois and New Jersey.

The number of people who are ill is likely higher than the number reported, the CDC statement said.

The agency is investigating the outbreak to determine which products were contaminated; no products have been recalled yet.

Listeria is a bacteria that causes listeriosis, an infection that can lead to a range of symptoms, from diarrhea and mild flu-like symptoms to more severe complications, such as seizures, stiff neck, and even death.

Listeriosis is especially dangerous for people who are pregnant, 65 or older, or immunocompromised, per the CDC. The infection is more likely to spread to different body parts for these groups, causing invasive listeriosis.

The CDC recommended that people at high risk for invasive illness should not eat deli meat sliced at deli counters unless they reheat it. The internal temperature of the deli meat should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The CDC advises that anyone who experiences fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, a stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, or seizures should contact a healthcare provider. Health officials investigating which products are connected to the current outbreak may contact people who have been or become diagnosed with listeriosis.