Press Release

Listeriosis Update

CDC is working with several State Health Departments in investigating a cluster of Listeria infections. The Listeria bacteria has been isolated and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)-matched in 29 patients, which suggests that these patients acquired illness from the same food. Case-patients live in southeastern Pennsylvania (12), New York City (11), New York State (2), Maryland (2), Connecticut (1), and Michigan (1). All patients were hospitalized and four have died (2 in New York City, 1 in Michigan and 1 in Pennsylvania). Federal and state public health officials are working to determine the food that caused these illnesses. These illnesses were first reported in the summer, and cases continued to be reported in September.

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