2 deaths linked to listeria outbreak, more than 2 dozen hospitalized, CDC says
At least two people have died and more than two dozen have been hospitalized after a listeria outbreak linked to meat sliced at grocery store deli counters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
At least 28 people in a dozen states have gotten sick, with the most cases being in New York, according to the CDC.
The two deaths linked to the outbreak were in Illinois and New Jersey.
So far, there's no information linking prepackaged deli meats to the outbreak, the CDC said.
People most commonly reported eating deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst and ham, officials said. The CDC doesn't have enough information to say which deli meats are the source of the outbreak and the agency’s investigations are ongoing.
States with listeria cases linked to the outbreak
Listeria symptoms: What are they?
FILE - Listeria bacteria. ( BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Symptoms can occur quickly or can take up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.
The infections are especially dangerous for people older than 65, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant people, who can have miscarriages.
This most recent outbreak includes people aged 32 to 94, with a median age of 75. One pregnant person got sick, but retained the pregnancy, officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.