Senior Citizens May Be Endangered by Increase in
Deadly Foodborne Disease: Listeriosis
Two die in Texas, several recalls this
month due to fear of listeria monocytogens bacteria, one of few
foodborne diseases on the rise
By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com
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This USDA video provides tips on
keeping food safe in the summer. There are recommendations below
news story for protection against Listeriosis.
Click to
Video |
May 13, 2010 – There seems to be mounting evidence
that older senior citizens should be on the alert for a possible
foodborne illiness, Listeriosis, which can develop from the consumption
of food containing the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. It is among the
deadliest of the foodborne diseases, especially for the elderly. There
have been several food recalls in two months and at least two deaths
reported in Texas due to this bacteria.
Twenty people died in the U.S. last year from
Listeria but those deaths came from only 158 cases. By comparison, there
were 24 deaths from the better known Salmonella in 2009, but that was
from 7,039 cases. (See table below)
“A modest increase in the incidence of Listeria
infection is a concern,” noted a report on 2099 issued April 16 by the
Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) of CDC's
Emerging Infections Program.
The report noted, however, “The incidence of
Listeria infection continues to be substantially lower than at the start
of FoodNet surveillance in 1996.”
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“This is not a large
outbreak. What made it bad is that it has infected people who
are fragile, elderly people” |
This report on preliminary data for 2009 and trends
in incidence since 1996 does reveal sustained declines in the incidence
of infections caused by Listeria, as well as, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, Shigella,
and Yersinia. Vibrio infection continued to increase.
“Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache,
neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and
stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those
with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons
with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned
about an illness should contact a physician,” according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The statement added, “Healthy people rarely
contract Listeriosis.”
|
Number of foodborne deaths and case fatality rate (CFR)
in 2009*, by pathogen |
|
Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet),
United States |
|
Pathogen |
Overall 2009 |
|
Bacteria |
# deaths |
total # cases |
CFR
(%) |
|
Campylobacter |
9 |
6033 |
0.15 |
|
Listeria |
20 |
158 |
12.66 |
|
Salmonella |
24 |
7039 |
0.34 |
|
Shigella |
1 |
1849 |
0.05 |
|
STEC†O157 |
2 |
459 |
0.44 |
|
STEC non-O157 |
1 |
264 |
0.38 |
|
Vibrio |
7 |
160 |
4.38 |
|
Yersinia |
2 |
150 |
1.33 |
|
Parasites |
|
|
Cryptosporidium |
8 |
1325 |
0.6 |
|
Cyclospora |
0 |
31 |
0 |
|
Total |
74 |
17468 |
0.42 |
|
*Data are preliminary |
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†Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli |
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Deadly outcomes in Texas
But, a reminder of the deadly consequence of
Listeriosis
for older people was in a news story today published in the
San Antonio Express-News.
“State and local health officials are investigating
a cluster of food-borne infections that sickened seven people in three
Texas counties this year, killing two of them,” reported Don Finley.
The infected patients ranged from ages 66 to 93.
Most had serious underlying health problems, and all but one were
hospitalized either before or during their infection. The first case was
reported in January, the most recent May 6, according to information
provided the San Antonio newspaper by Roger Sanchez, senior
epidemiologist with the Metropolitan Health District.
“This is not a large outbreak. What made it bad is
that it has infected people who are fragile, elderly people,” Sanchez
told the reporter.
Recalls announced by FDA and USDA
The FDA Enforcement Report of May 12 contained a
list of log/cheese ball products with the “potential to be contaiminated
with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that are voluntarily being recalled
by Wisconsin Cheeseman. This recall was initiated following a recall by
Parkers Farm, Inc.
The Cheeseman first announced the recall on January
20, 2010 of the products distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The company is recalling these cheese log/cheese
ball products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by
Parkers Farm, Inc. Parkers Farm said it believes some of its food items
have the potential to be contaminated with
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
This was just the latest in several recalls already
this month due to Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
On May 10, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for various ready-to-eat
deli meat products “because they may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes.”
In this case, FSIS was notified by the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that various ready-to-eat deli meat
products subject to recall in Canada may have been exported to the
United States. Recently, a problem was discovered through FSIS
microbiological testing of imported product from Canada, which resulted
in a positive sample for Listeria monocytogenes and two FSIS recalls
dated
May 4 and
5, 2010.
FSIS and Canada have received no reports of
illnesses as result of consumption of products subject to this alert.
Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a
physician. FSIS will continue to provide information as it becomes
available, including information about any related recall activity.
Products exported to the United States include, but
are not limited to, the following:
● "Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto"
● "Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Boneless"
● "Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Mattonella"
● "Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless"
● "Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless Sliced"
● "Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Sliced"
● "Emma Dry Prosciutto"
The following recalls due to Listeria monocytogenes
were also announced in May and April.
► May 5, 2010 - International Gourmet, a
Springfield, Va., establishment, is recalling approximately 70 pounds of
prosciutto products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) announced today.
>>
More information
► May 4, 2010 - Orlando Greco & Son Imports, a
Carol Stream, Ill., establishment, is recalling approximately 822 pounds
of prosciutto products that may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The problem was discovered by FSIS microbiological
testing of imported product resulting in a positive sample for Listeria
monocytogenes. FSIS was notified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
that the implicated product was also distributed to an Importer of
Record and further distributed, thus resulting in this recall. FSIS has
received no reports of illness as a result of consuming this product.
>>
More Information
► May 1, 2010 - Custom Corned Beef, Inc., a
Denver, Colo., establishment, is recalling approximately 460 pounds of
fully cooked crumbled pork sausage products that may be contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
>>
More information
► April 4, 2010 - Lorentz Meats, a Cannon
Falls, Minn., establishment, is recalling approximately 100 pounds of
ham products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) announced today.
>>
More information
Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis
>> Wash hands with warm, soapy water
before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds.
Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water.
Immediately clean spills.
>> Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away
from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for
raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.
>> Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats,
bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.
>> Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat
spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated
section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned
tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.
>> Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk
and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.
>> Do not eat salads made in the store
such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood
salad.
>> Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta,
queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses
and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
>> Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as
soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator
should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance
thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.
Answers to your questions
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask
Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at
AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and
can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through
Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
>> Read complete story in San Antonio Express-News
on Listeria deaths:
Seven sickened, two killed, by food-borne infection
