Listeria Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Listeria news & outbreaks

According to press reports, two Oregon mothers have been sickened by listeria after eating tainted Mexican-style cheese made in Yakima, causing their babies to be born with a serious illness.

Another person got sick as well in Washington state after eating Queso Fresco made by Queseria Bendita in Yakima. The firm's three cheeses, including Requeson and Panela, are being recalled.

State health officials are tracking another woman who could have been sickened by the same cheese. It can take up to 70 days for someone who's eaten a food tainted with listeria to become sick.

People with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to the organism. It poses a particular risk to pregnant women, who can have miscarriages or seriously sick babies. The infants don’t always make it.

Although queso fresco has been associated with listeria because it's often made with raw milk in poor conditions, this dairy uses pasteurized milk.  Still, inspectors from Washington state found listeria at Queseria Bendita’s small facility in Yakima. Positive samples were also found in unopened packages of its queso fresco.

Ken Robinson of Newsradio WTAM 1100 reports that the Ohio Department of Agriculture reports that listeria was found in a chicken and dumplings lunch, prepared by Paige Catering on East 55th Street.  The company provides thousands of meals to senior citizen centers in 5 counties. No meals were distributed to centers on Thursday, they hope to resume on Monday.

Listeria kills 500 Americans every year, but so far, no local illnesses, additional testing is being done.  Listeria is commonly found in soil, stream water, sewage, plants, and food. It can spread to the nervous system and cause meningitis.  Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil, and animals can also be carriers. Listeria has been found in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk, foods made from unpasteurized milk, and processed foods.  The bacteria is killed by pasteurization and cooking, however, in ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking and before packaging.  Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, ailments such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.