Denver Listeria Deaths Investigated
Two Colorado Listeria deaths have marked an outbreak of foodborne illness under investigation by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
State epidemiologists are working with personnel from Denver Public Health and Denver Environmental Health to determine the source of the Listeria outbreak, which has sickened a third person. A press release said all three cases involve people of Hispanic/Latino heritage. A man in his 30s and a woman in her 60s were the two who died.
Alicia Cronquist, an epidemiologist at the state health department, said officials are urging people to follow the standard Listeria prevention guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnant, elderly and other people who are at high risk for Listeria infection can decrease their risk by avoiding soft cheeses such as queso fresco and brie unless they are made with pasteurized milk; hot dogs and deli meats unless reheated to an internal temperature of 165F; refrigerated pâté or meat spreads, or refrigerated smoked seafood.
Many cases of listeriosis are caused by soft cheeses, such as queso fresco and brie. In some communities these cheeses are made with raw (unpasteurized) milk. The pasteurization process kills Listeria and other dangerous pathogens. The cheese making process does not kill these bacteria. Our attorneys are representing several people who were sickened by raw cheese sold at Costco stores (unrelated outbreak).
We have information on Listeria infections (listeriosis) in Spanish (see Listeriosis y la Comida).
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