Jan 27, 2009 12:49 pm US/Central
Listeriosis Leads To 2 Miscarriages In Cook County
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
After three cases of listeriosis in Cook County -- resulting in two miscarriages -- the state's public health director is reminding residents, especially pregnant women, to take precautions against foodborne illnesses.
Three pregnant Hispanic women in Chicago and suburban Cook County tested positive for listeriosis after becoming ill in late November and December, according to a release from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
All three women reported eating different types of soft cheese, the release said. One woman delivered her baby, who also tested positive for listeriosis, but the other two suffered miscarriages.
"It is very important that pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems avoid eating foods that are more likely to contain the Listeria bacteria, such as soft cheeses -- including Brie, feta and Mexican style soft or semi-soft cheese -- unless the product clearly states it is made with pasteurized milk," Dr. Damon state director of public health, said in the release.
"Although anyone can become sick from eating food contaminated with bacteria, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk," he said.
Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About a third of all reported cases in Illinois happen during pregnancy. Infection during pregnancy may result in spontaneous abortion during the second and third trimesters, or stillbirth.
And people with weakened immune systems (for example -- the elderly and people with cancer, diabetes, kidney disease or HIV/AIDS) are more likely to get listeriosis than those with normal immune systems.
Listeria can be found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats and vegetables, as well as processed food that becomes contaminated after processing, such as cheese and cold cuts at the deli counter. Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from raw milk may also contain the bacteria.
A person with listeriosis usually has a fever, muscle aches and, sometimes, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, a person may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. It can be anywhere from three to 70 days after ingesting the bacteria before a person experiences symptoms.
To reduce the risk of listeriosis or any foodborne illness:
-- Thoroughly cook all raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork or poultry.
-- Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
-- Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods.
-- Avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk or foods made from raw milk.
-- Wash hands, knives, other utensils and cutting surfaces after handling uncooked foods.
Pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should also:
-- Avoid soft cheeses (for example, feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined and Mexican-style soft or semi-soft cheese unless the product clearly states it is made with pasteurized milk). Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese or yogurt do not need to be avoided.
-- Cook left-over foods or ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs, until steaming hot before eating.
-- Although the risk of listeriosis associated with foods from deli counters is relatively low, thoroughly reheat cold cuts before eating.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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