Contamination of listeria monocytogenes is characterized by rises in fever, sometimes accompanied by headaches.
Five patients have died of listeria infection after eating sandwiches and salads in hospital, according to the British health agency Public Health England (PHE). A total of nine people were infected.
Patients hospitalized in England
The agency announced last week that “cases of listeria infection had been observed in six seriously ill patients hospitalized in England”, specifying that three of these patients had already died. “Unfortunately, one of the six critically ill patients has since passed away,” and “one of the patients whose case was identified today (Friday) as being linked to this outbreak has died, bringing the number of related deaths to five. to this outbreak,” a new statement noted. “All of these cases of listeria infection occurred in hospitalized patients in England,” it said.
According to the investigation which was opened, the sign The Good Food Chain would have produced the deadly foods. Contamination by listeria monocytogenes is unfortunately frequent and certain foods are more at risk than others, such as cheeses and cold cuts. In June 2018, two batches of neufchâtel cheese were recalled due to Listeria contamination. This bacterium was detected in two batches produced by the Les Cateliers cheese dairy, located in Buchy in Seine-Maritime and marketed mainly by Carrefour and Intermarché. As Why Doctor reported again in July 2017, five brands of minced salmon (in raw or prepared form, and packaged in 100g packets) produced by the company MerAlliance had also been contaminated.
Listeria monocytogenes
Responsible for severe infections in humans and animals, listeria is found in water, soil, waste water, human and animal faeces or even plants. This bacterium resists cold, proliferates in refrigerators and persists in freezers. His weakness is heat. Contamination of listeria monocytogenes is characterized by rises in fever, sometimes accompanied by headaches. If symptoms occur, see a doctor.
Invasive, it is capable of crossing the placenta and penetrating the central nervous system. As such, 60 million consumers recommend that women be particularly attentive to symptoms. As well as immunocompromised people and the elderly. These symptoms may suggest listeriosis, a disease that can be serious and whose incubation period can be up to eight weeks.
Overview of Listeriosis
Listeriosis is an infection that occurs mainly after ingesting food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Mainly ready-to-eat fish and meat products (eg smoked fish and sliced ham), but also dairy products, especially cheeses. On its website, the Ministry of Agriculture recalls that “ingesting the bacteria does not necessarily lead to listeriosis” and that “it is necessary to consume a high dose to risk becoming ill”.
Listeriosis is an infection that can be serious if it is complicated by sepsis – a generalized infection – or, and this is not better, an infection of the brain. Death occurs in nearly 20% of cases, which is huge… Especially among people over 70, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system. Fortunately, this complication is very rare… It killed 200 people in 2012 in Europe. Patients who were unable to benefit from effective antibiotic treatment in time.
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