Health Officials Confirm 2nd Case Of Listeria, Expect More
The city of El Paso Department of Public Health confirmed a second case of listeria and warned that because the incubation period for this disease can last up to two months, those infected might not feel the first symptoms until November.
The patient is a 77-year-old woman with underlying medical conditions who was hospitalized but is now recovering at home.
“We need to stay vigilant in detecting and treating this disease,” said Fernando Gonzalez, lead epidemiologist for the city’s health department.
The latest case comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to see an increase in people infected with Listeria monocytogenes, which is linked to a cantaloupe recall that began Sept. 14. The Food and Drug Administration announced that Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes after being linked to a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis.
The fruit was shipped to at least 17 states, including Texas, from July 29 through Sept. 10.
Anyone who has a cantaloupe from Jensen Farms is advised to dispose of it in a closed plastic bag inside a sealed trash can to prevent people or animals from eating it.
Cantaloupes included in the recall can be identified with either a green and white sticker that reads, “Product of USA-Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe,” or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads, “Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords.”
Even if someone has eaten the cantaloupe without becoming ill, the rest of the cantaloupe should be disposed of immediately. Listeria bacteria can grow in the cantaloupe at room and refrigerator temperatures. If you cannot determine the origin of a cantaloupe you have, you are asked to contact the store where it was purchased for this information.
For melons that are not part of this recall, the CDC recommend the following tips:
? Consumers and food preparers should wash their hands before and after handling any whole melon, such as cantaloupe, watermelon or honeydew.
? Wash the melons and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel before cutting.
? Cut melon should be promptly consumed or refrigerated at or less than 40 degrees F (32-34 degrees F is best) for no more than seven days.
? Cut melons left at room temperature for more than four hours should be discarded.
Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms include fever and muscle aches. Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups, including older adults, people with compromised immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions (such as cancer), and unborn babies and newborns. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and serious illness or death in newborn babies, though the mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill.
