Listeria Outbreak From Deli Meats Reported In WI

Two people are dead and many sickened from a listeria outbreak linked to deli meats, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Health officials said there are two deaths and 28 reports of illness in 12 states, including Wisconsin, tied to the outbreak. The deaths were reported in New Jersey and Illinois. Illnesses have also been reported in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Maryland and beyond.

According to the CDC, many people sickened in the outbreak reported eating meats sliced at deli counters. “We do not have information to show that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats,” the CDC said in a statement.

Of 28 patients with information available, all have been hospitalized. One person became sick while pregnant and remained pregnant after recovering, the CDC said.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” health officials said in a news release. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”

Samples were collected from sick patients between May 29 and July 5. Patients have ranged in age from age 32 to 94, with a median age of 75.

State and local health officials are interviewing patients about foods they ate in the month before becoming ill.

“People are reporting eating a variety of meats sliced at deli counters. Of the 18 people able to be interviewed, 16 (89%) reported eating meats sliced at a deli, most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham,” the CDC said. “Meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis.”

An analysis showed people sickened in the outbreak were more likely to have eaten deli-sliced turkey and liverwurst.

“This information suggests that meats sliced at the deli are a likely source of this outbreak,” the CDC said, but added the agency doesn’t have enough information to say which deli meats are the source of the outbreak.

In 2022, another listeria outbreak that officials believed was linked to deli meat and cheese sickened at least two people in Illinois and killed a Maryland resident.

The CDC advises people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system to contact their healthcare provider if they have any ts sliced at the deli unless they are heated before eating.

With reporting by Shannon Antinori of Patch.