Listeria-Laden Cantaloupes Kill At Least 13; Toll Likely To Grow

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 13 people have died as a result of a listeria outbreak linked to Colorado cantaloupes, making it the deadliest American case of food-borne illness in more than a decade, according to the Associated Press. The death toll could soon reach 16, health officials say, as investigators look into additional deaths in New Mexico, Kansas, and Wyoming. The CDC announced yesterday that 72 people in 18 states had been infected by several strains of Listeria monocytogenes. The bacterium has been traced to “Rocky Ford Cantaloupes” grown by Jensen Farms in Granada, Colo. The specific source of the outbreak has not yet been identified, but the bacterium is widespread in soil and animal waste and is quite hardy, capable of growing even in refrigerated conditions. Listeria kills about 25 percent of those infected [PDF], making it the deadliest common food-borne illness— E. coli, second in this category, only kills less than one percent of those effected. That said, healthy adults are unlikely to become ill; listeria primarily affects people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, pregnant moms, and their unborn babies. If you are in one of these categories, it’s probably best to avoid muskmelon for a little while. Listeria has a long incubation period, sometimes up to four weeks, so expect the death toll to rise (since the recall was only issued two weeks ago).

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/28/listeria-laden-cantaloupes-kill-at-least-13-toll-likely-to-grow/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+80beats+%2880beats%29

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

[MyLittlePony 340]

Cantaloupes are good but i will cut them off my one favorites i dont care if they are only in different state causing death.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Ethans dad

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Maybe we can stem the baby boomer retirement tide after all.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I live in Colorado an usually eat cantaloupe, but my husband hates it, so I don't buy it that often anymore. I guess that saved me, but my heart goes out to the others who died and their loved ones.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Organic food is bad for you

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I live in Colorado an usually eat cantaloupe, but my husband hates it, so I don't buy it that often anymore. I guess that saved me, but my heart goes out to the others who died and their loved ones.

Do you seriously believe you were saved from death because your husband does not like cantaloupe?

It only affects people with compromised immune systems.

Cantaloupes are good but i will cut them off my one favorites i dont care if they are only in different state causing death.

Good idea. Maybe you won't die

[MyLittlePony 340]

Organic food is bad for you

I agree and more expensive.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Do you seriously believe you were saved from death because your husband does not like cantaloupe?

It only affects people with compromised immune systems.

I didn't say anything about death in my post. People who are at high risk for Listeria infection include people with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain chronic diseases, immunosuppressive therapies or medications; pregnant women; and people age 60 and older, but you don't have to be at high risk to suffer from it. So far, at least 72 people have been sickened by it, not all of them high risk.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I didn't say anything about death in my post. People who are at high risk for Listeria infection include people with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain chronic diseases, immunosuppressive therapies or medications; pregnant women; and people age 60 and older, but you don't have to be at high risk to suffer from it. So far, at least 72 people have been sickened by it, not all of them high risk.

What does "saved me" mean?

[Dakine10 5,452]

While they are still searching for the source, one of the early suspects is treated human waste (known as biosolids) which was used as a fertilizer in some nearby fields. However with Listeria's ability to survive in the environment and at extreme temperatures, it is possible the original source of the outrbreak will not be determined.

If this kind of ####### continues, it might not be long until people have to start cooking all of their fruit and vegetables.