Update: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis -- United States,
1998-1999
From early August 1998 through January 6, 1999, at least 50
illnesses caused by a rare strain of the bacterium Listeria
monocytogenes, serotype 4b, have been reported to CDC by 11 states.
Six adults have died and two pregnant women have had spontaneous
abortions. Reported illness onset dates were during August
2-December
13, 1998. CDC and state and local health departments have
identified the vehicle for transmission as hot dogs and possibly
deli meats produced under many brand names by one manufacturer.
This report updates the investigation of this outbreak (1).
On December 22, the manufacturer, Bil Mar Foods, voluntarily
recalled specific production lots of hot dogs and deli meats that
might be contaminated. CDC later isolated the outbreak strain of L.
monocytogenes from an opened and a previously unopened package of
hot dogs manufactured at the company's plant in Zeeland, Michigan.
In addition, a different strain of L. monocytogenes was isolated
from unopened packages of deli meats produced at the same plant.
Recalled products bear the establishment numbers EST P261 or
EST 6911. The establishment number appears on the outer edge of all
packages. The affected products included hot dogs and deli meats
with the brand names Ball Park, Bil Mar, Bryan Bunsize, Bryan 3-lb
Club Pack, Grillmaster, Hygrade, Mr. Turkey, Sara Lee Deli Meat,
and Sara Lee Home Roast brands. Institutions may have received
recalled product under other brand names. Packages for the above
brand names that carry other establishment numbers are not affected
by the recall. Other Sara Lee products that are not meat also are
not affected.
Reported by: Ohio Dept of Health. New York State Dept of Health;
Food Safety Laboratory, Cornell Univ, New York City Dept of Health.
Tennessee Dept of Health. Massachusetts Dept of Public Health. West
Virginia Dept of Health and Human Resources. Michigan Dept of
Community Health. Connecticut Dept of Public Health. Health Div,
Oregon Dept of Human Resources. Vermont Dept of Health. Div of
Public Health, Georgia Dept of Human Resources. Minnesota Dept of
Community Health. Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Br, Div of
Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious
Diseases; and EIS officers, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Healthy persons rarely develop severe illness from
Listeria. The illness primarily occurs in pregnant women, newborns,
and persons with impaired immunity caused by serious illness, such
as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or cancer. Listeria
infections during pregnancy may cause an influenza-like illness
with fever and chills, and may lead to loss of the fetus. In other
persons, early symptoms can include fever, severe headache, and
stiff neck. Illness can begin 2-8 weeks after eating the
contaminated food.
Consumers who have the affected product should not eat it, but
rather should discard it or return it to the point of purchase. The
risk for developing Listeria infection after eating a contaminated
product is low. Persons who have eaten a contaminated product and
do not have any symptoms do not need any special medical evaluation
or treatment, even if they are in high-risk groups. However,
persons in high-risk groups who have eaten the contaminated
product, and within 2 months become ill with fever or
influenza-like illness, should inform their physicians about this
exposure. Because of this long incubation period, cases may
continue to occur and be reported for several weeks after an
effective recall.
Consumers who have questions about the recall or the products
involved should contact Bil Mar Foods, telephone (800) 247-8339.
Persons who have questions about Listeria should call their
physicians or their local or state health departments or visit
CDC's World-Wide Web site,
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/foodborn/lister.htm. General
questions about meat handling should be directed to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline, telephone
(800) 535-4555, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
eastern time.
Reference
CDC. Multistate outbreak of listeriosis -- United States, 1998.
MMWR 1998;47:1085-6.
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