Listeria Poses Frightful Risk in Pregnancy
Children's Hospital Colorado says it very well: Listeria infection is rare, but when it does occur it most frequently affects pregnant women in their last trimester, the fetus, newborns, and kids and adults whose immunity is weakened by diseases such as cancer or HIV. People who have had various types of transplants are also more at risk for listeriosis.
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A person can ingest Listeria monocytogenes bacteria by eating certain foods, such as ready-to-eat deli meats and cold cuts, soft-ripened cheese, raw milk, undercooked chicken, uncooked hot dogs, shellfish, and coleslaw made from contaminated cabbage. In Colorado right now, state health officials are searching for the cause of an outbreak that has resulted in two Listeria deaths. Seven others have been hospitalized and the majority are older female adults.Our law firm is monitoring this outbreak and has represented victims of foodborne listeriosis in the past -- including multi-million dollar recoveries for couples who have lost pregnancies due to the infection. In one of those cases, the couple had been struggling to get pregnant and the mother lost the ability to have children again due to complications of the food poisoning. Contact our listeriosis attorneys for a free consultation.
Listeria infections may create symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and poor feeding. But pregnant women who develop listeriosis may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, although they are at risk for premature delivery, miscarriage, and stillbirth.
Cases of listeriosis are relatively rare. In 2004, just 120 cases were reported in the United States. But In all cases -- as Children's Hospital Colorado notes -- the earlier that listeriosis is detected and treated, the better. That is why it is especially important for pregnant women to heed the Listeria warning newly issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
If you are pregnant or in one of the other high-risk groups, take the following precautions:
- Always cook food (especially meat and eggs) thoroughly to the proper internal temperature.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Only drink pasteurized milk, and make sure that milk is refrigerated at the appropriate temperature, which is less than 40º Fahrenheit (4º Celcius).
- Avoid foods made from unpasteurized milk.
- Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheeses unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.
- Reheat precooked, prepackaged foods — such as deli meats or hot dogs — to steaming hot temperatures.
