Two Texans Dead In Listeria Outbreak: What You Need To Know About Tainted Cantaloupes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that as of today, thirteen people from around the country have died in the most recent listeria outbreak and that another 72 people have fallen ill after eating tainted cantaloupes. Two deaths and 14 of the food poisoning cases were located in Texas.

The Outbreak

Scientists have traced the outbreak to Jensen Farms, which ships cantaloupes to a number of states, including Texas. The bacteria in the melons has sickened people from coast to coast, with many shops and grocery stores pulling fruit off of their shelves in order to prevent further deaths. Following this rash of sicknesses, another produce company has recalled a large amount of romaine lettuce that may contain the bacteria.

Although Jensen Farm has recalled all of its cantaloupes and stopped sending out new fruit, the CDC believes that more cases will likely surface both because some may already have the melons in their home and because it can take weeks for a listeria infection to take hold. Already, though, the food poisoning outbreak is the deadliest in over a decade.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a bacteria that is rarely found in foods, but that is extremely dangerous when it is. Usually detected in products like meats and cheeses, listeria can be fatal in about 30 percent of cases and can causes severe illness in the remaining 70 percent. The very young, the very old, and those with compromised immune systems are most likely to die from a listeria infection.

The symptoms of listeria are flu-like: those infected may suffer from fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and nausea in addition to more unique symptoms including headache, convulsions, confusion and loss of balance. Serious cases may cause patients to develop meningitis or sepsis.

Have you or a loved one been affected by contaminated food or by the recent listeria outbreak? Speak to a Texas products liability attorney about your case and make certain that justice is done.