U.S. Says 8 Deaths From Contaminated Meat
Friday January 8 12:24 AM ET
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The number of U.S. deaths linked to bacteria-contaminated hot dogs and other meat products included in a nationwide recall has risen to eight, federal health officials said Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that six adults have died and two pregnant women have had spontaneous abortions since August because of meat products containing Listeria bacteria.
More than 40 other people in 11 states have developed listeriosis, the illness cased by the bacteria, the federal health agency said.
The death toll was up from four announced by the CDC on Dec. 23.
Bil Mar Foods, a division of Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE:SLE - news), on Dec. 22, voluntarily recalled specific production lots of hot dogs and other meat products that might be contaminated.
CDC researchers said two strains of Listeria bacteria were isolated from opened and unopened packages of meat products from the company's plant in Zeeland, Michigan.
Health officials said Listeria is a bacterium found in soil and water, which can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products. The health agency said that about 1,850 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year and on average 425 of them die.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, it can cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions, health officials said.
The CDC said listeriosis and other foodborne illnesses can be prevented by cooking thoroughly raw food from animal sources and washing raw vegetables thoroughly before eating. |
