A Listeria outbreak has prompted almost two dozen diseases, with most of the sufferers residing in or having traveled to Florida. One particular person died whereas a pregnant affected person skilled “fetal loss.”

A complete of 23 folks have been contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak pressure as of Wednesday, based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The diseases had been reported from 10 states. Twelve of the instances had been reported in Florida, whereas eight of the sufferers who didn’t dwell in Florida additionally reported touring to the state within the month earlier than they bought sick.

That stated, “the importance of that is nonetheless beneath investigation,” the CDC famous.

Twenty-two (96%) of the sufferers needed to be hospitalized, with one loss of life reported from Illinois. Five of the sufferers additionally fell in poor health throughout their being pregnant. One of them skilled a “fetal loss.”

As the CDC defined, pregnant folks and their newborns, older adults and people who have weakened immune programs are most prone to getting sick with Listeria. In pregnant folks, it might end in miscarriage, stillbirth or untimely supply though the sickness itself might solely be gentle. Their newborns may additionally expertise a “life-threatening an infection.”

While different folks could be contaminated with Listeria as nicely, they “not often change into significantly in poor health.”

“The true variety of sick folks in an outbreak is probably going larger than the quantity reported, and the outbreak might not be restricted to the states with identified diseases,” the CDC defined. “In addition, current diseases might not but be reported because it often takes 3 to 4 weeks to find out if a sick particular person is a part of an outbreak.”

Results of whole-genome sequencing counsel that the sufferers “probably bought sick from the identical meals.” Authorities are nonetheless conducting investigations and interviews to find out what the sufferers might have eaten earlier than they bought sick.

“So far, a standard meals merchandise has not been recognized,” the CDC stated.

As such, the company is urging anybody who might have signs of Listeria to listing the meals they keep in mind consuming within the month earlier than they bought sick to assist “remedy the outbreak.”

Symptoms of Listeriosis could also be flu-like in pregnant folks. In those that aren’t pregnant, the signs might embrace headache, fever, stiff neck, convulsions, lack of stability, confusion and muscle aches. They may additionally expertise meals poisoning signs akin to diarrhea.

According to the CDC, signs of “extreme sickness” usually start about two weeks after consuming the contaminated meals. But there are additionally instances by which the signs are reported “as early as the identical day or as late as 70 days after.”

“If you’re at larger danger for Listeria an infection and have signs, particularly when you lately traveled to Florida, discuss to your healthcare supplier,” the CDC famous.