Listeria infections being investigated

By Kate Shumakova

BELLEVILLE – The Ontario government says it is investigating cases of Listeria infections.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Care said Wednesday that it has not confirmed the source of the infections. However, prepackaged leafy greens, salad blends and salad kits are under special investigation, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. It said that some of the Ontario cases are also part of a national investigation.

The agency reports that there are seven cases of Listeria in five provinces related to this outbreak, including three in Ontario. The cases of infection happened between September 2015 and early January 2016, with majority of females being infected. All patients have been hospitalized, and one person has died. However, the federal government says it has not been determined if Listeria caused the death.

Listeria is the name of a bacteria found in soil and water and some animals, including poultry and cattle and has a case-fatality rate of about 20 per cent.

In a statement, Dr. Eric Hoskins, the Ontario minister of health, and Dr. David Williams, acting chief medical officer of health, say that the risk of Listeria outbreak in Ontario is still low.

“At this time, the risk to Ontarians is low, but given that Listeria can cause severe illness to some high-risk groups,” they said in the statement.

Some people are more vulnerable to this disease than others: pregnant women, older people and people with weakened immune systems.

In order to low the risk of being infected, the Ministry of Health recommends to avoid high risk food items such as:

• Uncooked meat and vegetables
• Unpasteurized milk and other dairy products made from unpasteurized milk
• Ready-to-go meats, such as hot dog, pâté and deli meat
• Refrigerated smoked seafood and fish

Unlike most bacteria, Listeria survives on foods being stored in the fridge but can be killed by heat during the cooking process. Some severe symptoms may include headache, poor co-ordination, seizures and neck stiffness. The disease can be treated by antibiotics but early diagnosis is highly important.