Current:Home > BackDeath toll is now 8 in listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat, CDC says-LoTradeCoin
Death toll is now 8 in listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat, CDC says
View Date:2024-12-23 20:23:02
At least eight people have died after being infected with listeria from Boar’s Head deli meats tied to a massive recall last month, federal health officials said Wednesday.
The new food poisoning toll includes two deaths in South Carolina plus one each in Florida, New Mexico and Tennessee, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three deaths were previously confirmed in people who lived in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.
At least 57 people have been sickened and hospitalized in the outbreak. Illnesses were reported starting in late May and have continued into August, the agency said. It’s the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, and Boar’s Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products.
Listeria infections are caused by a hardy type of bacteria that can survive and even thrive during refrigeration. An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC. Infections can be hard to pinpoint because symptoms may occur quickly — or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.
The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those who are pregnant or those with weakened immune systems.
The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.
Boar’s Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to August 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The products included those sliced at deli counters as well as some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters and bacon.
All the recalled deli meats have been removed from stores and are no longer available, Boar’s Head officials said on the company’s website. The products were distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.
CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.
Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects.
In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, of Newport News, died on July 18 from a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria, an illness that was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.
Morgenstein, 88, was a German-born Holocaust survivor who moved to Canada and then the U.S. as a young man and later became a flamboyant hair stylist, according to his son, Garshon Morgenstein. During his 70-year career, his father styled celebrities such as the singer Tom Jones and was known for his funny, outgoing personality, Garshon Morgenstein said.
Gunter Morgenstein enjoyed liverwurst, usually spread on bagels, and bought it regularly, insisting on the Boar’s Head brand because he believed it was top quality, his son said.
He fell ill in early July and was hospitalized on July 8, eventually becoming so sick that doctors said he suffered permanent brain damage and was unlikely to recover. Family members withdrew life support, his son said.
After Morgenstein’s death, a review of receipts showed that he bought the recalled deli meat tied to the outbreak on June 30. The family has hired a lawyer, Houston-based Ron Simon.
“It’s really just a senseless accident and tragedy for something that just should not have ever happened,” his son said. “He still had many good years left.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- College Football Playoff snubs: Georgia among teams with beef after second rankings
- Brazen, amateurish Tokyo heist highlights rising trend as Japan's gangs lure desperate youth into crime
- More than 200 dead after Congo floods, with many more missing, officials say
- South Carolina doctors give young Ukraine war refugee the gift of sound
- Massachusetts lawmakers to consider a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution
- Ukraine intercepts Russia's latest missile barrage, putting a damper on Putin's Victory Day parade
- Everything We Know About Yellowjackets Season 2
- Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to 11 years in prison for Theranos fraud
- After years of unrest, Commanders have reinvented their culture and shattered expectations
- Indian Matchmaking Season 3 Has a Premiere Date and First Look Photos
Ranking
- Volkswagen, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Porsche among 304k vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
- Aries Shoppable Horoscope: 10 Birthday Gifts Aries Will Love Even More Than Impulsive Decision-Making
- Playing Pirate: Looking back on the 'Monkey Island' series after its 'Return'
- Transcript: Rep. Patrick McHenry on Face the Nation, May 7, 2023
- Former NFL coach Jack Del Rio charged with operating vehicle while intoxicated
- From Tesla to SpaceX, what Elon Musk touches turns to gold. Twitter may be different
- U.N. says Iran on pace for frighteningly high number of state executions this year
- Batman is dead and four new heroes can't quite replace him in 'Gotham Knights'
Recommendation
-
Black and Latino families displaced from Palm Springs neighborhood reach $27M tentative settlement
-
The Game Awards 2022: The full list of winners
-
Facebook's own oversight board slams its special program for VIPs
-
Missing woman survives on lollipops and wine for 5 days stranded in Australian bushland
-
Drone footage captures scope of damage, destruction from deadly Louisville explosion
-
Have you invested in crypto on FTX or other platforms? We want to hear from you
-
Brazen, amateurish Tokyo heist highlights rising trend as Japan's gangs lure desperate youth into crime
-
The Best Under $10 Exfoliating Body Gloves for Soft Skin, Self-Tanning & Ingrown Hairs