Recalled Pasta Meals Listeria: A nationwide listeria outbreak connected to recalled ready-to-eat pasta meals has claimed six lives and left several others hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data shared by public health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), shows that 27 people across 18 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of listeria.Out of 26 people with detailed medical information, 25 required hospitalization, and six deaths occurred in Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. As reported by PEOPLE, one pregnancy-related infection also led to the loss of a baby. The CDC noted that the real number of cases is likely higher since confirming a link to an outbreak can take several weeks, and some individuals may recover without medical attention.As the listeria outbreak unfolds, it raises the question: how do you know if you are at risk?Recalled Pasta Meals Listeria: Who All Are At Risks For Listeria Outbreak?According to the CDC, listeria poses the greatest danger to pregnant women, adults over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In these groups, the bacteria can spread beyond the intestines and cause a serious condition called invasive listeriosis.For pregnant women, infection can lead to pregnancy loss, premature birth, or severe illness in newborns.For older adults and people with compromised immunity, listeria often leads to hospitalization and, in some cases, death.Symptoms generally begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food but can appear as soon as the same day or up to 10 weeks later. Pregnant women may experience fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Even if the illness seems mild, it can result in pregnancy complications or affect the baby’s health.Other individuals may develop headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, along with fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.Listeria Prepared Pasta Recall: How To Know If You Are Affected By ListeriaPeople usually get infected after consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. The incubation period, the time between infection and symptom onset, can range from 3 to 70 days, with an average of about 3 weeks. When a pregnant woman eats contaminated food, the infection can pass through the placenta to the baby.As the CDC explains, healthy individuals may not show symptoms or might only develop mild, short-lived flu-like signs, sometimes with minor digestive discomfort. These mild infections typically remain limited to the gut lining.In people at higher risk, the bacteria can spread into the bloodstream, leading to more severe complications. Older adults and those with weakened immune systems can develop meningitis or sepsis, which present as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.Pregnant women may have few or no symptoms, but infection can still harm the baby, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, or meningitis in newborns. For more detailed information, pregnant women are advised to refer to official CDC guidance on listeria during pregnancy.Recalled Pasta Meals Listeria: How Does Listeria Get Into Food?Listeria monocytogenes is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soil and water. Vegetables may become contaminated through soil or manure-based fertilizers. Animals can also carry listeria without appearing sick, which means meat and dairy from these animals can be infected. In some cases, contamination occurs after food processing, such as in soft cheeses or deli products.Listeria Prepared Pasta Recall: How Is Listeriosis Diagnosed?Doctors typically confirm listeriosis by testing a patient’s blood or cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord). During pregnancy, a blood test is the most accurate way to determine whether a woman’s symptoms are caused by a listeria infection.
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