In a multi-state Listeria outbreak7 million pounds of deli and poultry items have been recalled in the U.S. According to the latest reports, 34 people in 13 states have fallen ill and this includes 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Deli meat company Boar’s Head last week recalled more than 207,000 pounds of deli meats, including liverwurst and ham products, because they may contain Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a press release that the deli meat recall has expanded to include 71 products produced from May 10 through July 29 — including meat used for slicing in delis, as well as certain packaged meat and poultry products.

According to an NBC News report, the company said in a statement on its website that it took the step after listeria was confirmed in a sample of liverwurst collected by the Maryland Department of Health.

The Maryland Department of Health and the Baltimore City Health Department collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for further testing, which determined that the product sample “tested positive for the outbreak,” the USDA release said.

Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, is a foodborne illness. Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis and is commonly found in soil, groundwater, decaying vegetation, and animal feces (poop). Most people are infected by eating contaminated foods. It usually takes one to two weeks for symptoms to appear, although, in some cases, it can be as short as a few days or as long as three months.

The infection can be serious for many people, including pregnant women, people over age 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Healthy people rarely get sick, but the disease can be fatal for unborn babies and newborns.

Symptoms of Listeria Infection

Here’s a look at some common symptoms of listeria infection.

• Fever
• Feeling cold
• Muscle pain
• nausea
• Diarrhea

When the infection spreads to your nervous system, it can cause the following signs and symptoms.

• Headache
• stiff neck
• confusion or changes in alertness
• Loss of balance
• convulsions

Here, a look at the symptoms during pregnancy and in newborns

Listeria infection during pregnancy causes only mild symptoms in the mother. However, the consequences for the baby can be devastating, and the baby can die in the womb or develop a life-threatening infection within a few days of birth, says the Mayo Clinic.

Signs and symptoms of listeria infection in a newborn may be subtle, but may include:

• Low interest in food
• irritability
• Fever
• vomit
• Difficulty in breathing.

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