Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that a listeria surge has escalated, making it the United States’ biggest outbreak since 2011.
- The outbreak, which was first reported in July 2024, has now claimed at least nine lives and led to 57 hospitalisations across 18 states.
- The CDC warned that listeria is a bacteria that can survive on surfaces like meat slicers and in foods, even at refrigerated temperatures.
- Symptoms can take up to 10 weeks to appear after consuming contaminated food, which makes this outbreak particularly challenging to contain.
- Listeria are bacteria (germs) that can contaminate many foods.
- People who eat those foods can get infected with the bacteria. Listeria infection is rare, but serious.
