The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Wednesday that five more individuals have died and 14 new hospitalizations have been linked to the listeria outbreak involving Boar’s Head deli products.

Since the CDC began its investigation on July 19, the outbreak has resulted in at least 57 hospitalizations, which includes eight deaths, across 18 states, according to health officials.

This marks an increase from the stats released on August 8, which showed 43 hospitalizations and three deaths in 13 states.

The latest five deaths occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and South Carolina, with the outbreak also spreading to five additional states: Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Since July 26, Boar’s Head has issued a recall of 71 products, amounting to approximately 7.2 million pounds of deli meats. The company is also facing legal issues, with at least one class-action lawsuit filed. The family of a victim, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Virginia, has spoken to YSL News about their plans for legal action following his death.

Which Boar’s Head products are recalled?

Initially, Boar’s Head issued a recall on July 26 for 207,528 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meats, followed by a wider recall on July 30 that included over 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats and poultry.

In a statement on July 30, Boar’s Head mentioned that the expanded recall was initiated after its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst was connected to the national listeria outbreak.

Recalled Boar’s Head Ready-to-Eat liverwurst products

• Produced between June 11, 2024, and July 17, 2024, with a 44-day shelf-life
• “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst made in Virginia”
• 3.5-pound loaves in plastic casings, or various weight packages sliced at retail delis
• Sell-by dates range from July 25, 2024, to August 30, 2024

Other Boar’s Head deli meat items

All deli products from Boar’s Head have also been recalled, including prepackaged items. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” on product labels inside the USDA inspection mark.

Multi-state listeria outbreak results in five more deaths since early August

The CDC’s outbreak tally has increased to include five more deaths, 14 new hospitalizations, and five additional states since the last update on August 8.

According to CDC data, the people affected by this outbreak range from ages 32 to 94, with the median age being 75. The eight fatalities occurred in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and South Carolina.

Currently, the CDC and USDA are monitoring 18 states for infections related to this outbreak.

These states include:

• New York: 17
• Maryland: 8
• New Jersey: 5
• Virginia: 4
• Massachusetts: 3
• Florida: 3
• Missouri: 3
• Georgia: 2
• South Carolina: 2
• Minnesota: 1
• Wisconsin: 1
• Illinois: 1
• Pennsylvania: 2
• North Carolina: 1
• Indiana: 1
• Arizona: 1
• New Mexico: 1
• Tennessee: 1

Symptoms of listeriosis or listeria poisoning

Listeriosis, a foodborne bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is a serious illness that can pose significant risks, particularly to older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women.

USDA outlines symptoms that may occur:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Convulsions
• Diarrhea
• Other gastrointestinal issues
• Possible pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage or stillbirth, and severe infections in newborns
• Death

Individuals at higher risk should seek medical attention if they experience flu-like symptoms within two months after consuming contaminated food, as per USDA recommendations.

Precautions for safety

The CDC advises individuals who are pregnant, over 65, or have weakened immune systems to take extra precautions to avoid illness.

At-risk individuals should follow these guidelines:

• Avoid eating recalled deli meats. Dispose of them or reach out to stores for returns.
• Do not consume any deli meats sliced at deli counters unless they are reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or are steaming hot. Cool before consuming.
  • Listeria can thrive in refrigerated foods but can be destroyed by heating them adequately.
• Thoroughly clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced deli meats.
  • This is crucial if you purchased any of the recalled deli items.
• Immediately contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms:
  • Typically, non-pregnant individuals will have fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, with possible headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
  • Pregnant individuals typically experience fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. However, listeria can result in pregnancy loss or premature birth and may lead to severe illness or death in newborns.