9 Dead From Boar's Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, 1 In Florida

  

Boar's Head Deli display. Credit; Publix 

The U.S. Center for Disease Control announced that an additional 14 cases of listeriosis bringing the total number of infections to 57. 

All 57 individuals affected by the outbreak have been hospitalized, and the number of deaths has now risen to nine. 

The six new fatalities include one person from Florida, one from Tennessee, one from New Mexico, one from New York, and two from South Carolina.

This outbreak, linked to recalled Boar's Head products, is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak associated with cantaloupe.

Health officials are urging the public to check their homes for any remaining Boar's Head products that have been recalled, as these items can have an extended shelf life. 

Consumers should look for "EST. 12612" or "P-12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on product labels. Some of these products have sell-by dates extending into October 2024.

Listeria is a resilient bacterium that can persist on surfaces like meat slicers and in foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms of listeriosis to appear after exposure.

Thoroughly clean your refrigerator, containers, and any surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced deli meats to prevent further contamination.