Colorado Officials Issue Advisory in Wake of Listeria Outbreak
Colorado health officials are advising consumers to follow federal food safety guidelines after a Listeria outbreak has killed two people and sickened seven others. The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
Most of the patients were adult females ranging in age from 30s to 90s. Patients were hospitalized in all nine recent cases of listeriosis, in the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson and Weld, according to a statement released by the health department this afternoon.
Symptoms of listeriosis usually include diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a fever and muscle aches. Pregnant and elderly women are most at risk. Antibiotics given promptly can cure the illness and prevent infection of a fetus. But even with prompt treatment, some Listeria infections result in death. This is particularly likely in older adults and in people with other serious medical problems, according the the health department statement.
National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has handled many listeriosis cases, including several that resulted in multi-million dollar claims. Contact our listeriosis attorneys for a free consultation.
While health officials try to determine the source of the outbreak, they are reminding consumers to follow federal guidelines to avoid illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendatiosn for various foods are as follows:
Hot Dogs and Deli Meats
- Heat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Clean spilled fluid from packaging from all surfaces
- Wash hands after handling.
- Avoid eating refrigerated pates or meat spreads.
Cheeses
- Do not eat soft cheese such as feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, brie, Camembert, blue-veined, or panela (queso panela) unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
Seafood
- Do not eat refrigerated, smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole, or unless it is a canned or shelf-stable product.
- Refrigerated, smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." These fish are typically found in the refrigerator section.
