Listeriosis Outbreak: Five More Deaths Linked to Boars Head Deli Meat

Death Toll Now Nine in Multistate Listeria Outbreak Tied to Boars Head Deli Meat

CDC Reports 14 New Hospitalizations Related to Outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported five additional deaths in a multistate listeria outbreak linked to Boars Head deli meat. This brings the total number of fatalities to nine.

The CDC also reports 14 new hospitalizations due to the outbreak, bringing the total number of cases to 32 across 16 states.

Six New Deaths Reported

The six new deaths include:

• One from Florida
• One from Tennessee
• One from New Mexico
• One from New York
• Two from Massachusetts

Largest Listeria Outbreak Since 2011

The CDC states that this is the largest listeria outbreak since 2011, when an outbreak linked to cantaloupe resulted in 33 deaths.

Recall of 7 Million Pounds of Deli Meat

In response to the outbreak, Boars Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat.

Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators for any recalled products and discard them immediately.

Symptoms of Listeriosis

Symptoms of listeriosis include:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

In severe cases, listeriosis can lead to sepsis and meningitis.

High-Risk Groups

Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe listeriosis infections.

Preventing Listeriosis

To prevent listeriosis, it is important to:

• Wash hands before and after handling food
• Cook meat thoroughly
• Avoid unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses
• Discard recalled products

More Information

For more information on the Boars Head listeria outbreak, please visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/deli-meat-08-2024/index.html