Listeria update

Seventeen more Listeria infections, along with five more deaths, have been linked to a multistate outbreak tied to a Colorado farm's tainted cantaloupes, pushing the total to 72 illnesses and 13 deaths.

Pregnant women are among those vulnerable to listeriosis infections, along with older people and those who have weakened immune systems.

The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is the deadliest one in the country in nearly a decade, because listeriosis is highly lethal in susceptible groups.Although the cantaloupes have been recalled and are nearing the end of their shelf life, federal officials worry that some of the affected products could still be in people's refrigerators, where Listeria, unlike other foodborne pathogens, can flourish even in cold conditions.(Toss your cantaloupes! The compost pile is a perfect place.) The CDC advised people to check the labels before consuming cantaloupes, and advised them to dispose of the products if the source can't be determined from the label or by asking suppliers.

The outbreak is expected to climb higher, because several other states and local health departments are investigating if their listeriosis cases are connected to the outbreak. CDC said it expects to receive reports of additional cases through October, because the incubation period for the disease is long, and patients can get sick with listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food.

Four more states—Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and North Dakota—reported their first outbreak-related Listeria infections, pushing the number of affected to states to 18.

At least 25 states received shipments of the Rocky Ford region cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, which recalled its products on Sep 14 after testing revealed the outbreak strain on its cantaloupes and on equipment at its Granada. Colo., facility. That total is eight states more than in the CDC's previous update on Sep 21. The products could have also been further distributed.

No cases so far in Washington State....yet. WASH your vegetables and fruit BEFORE cutting into them. I'm talking a scrub brush! Do I eat cantaloupe? Yes! Do I WASH it?.....always. You never know where that cantaloupe has been! They tend to grow in the ground and roll around in the dirt before they end up in your grocery store. Come on! Be safe!