Over the course of this year, seven people have become sickened in Texas with an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis has now taken the lives of two elderly people. This is not surprising, as most food poisoning related illnesses are most dangerous in certain groups of individuals, including the elderly. The seven people who have become ill so far are from Bexar County, Travis County and Hidalgo County. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District states that the victims who died ranged in ages from 66 to 93.
While this has been a relatively small outbreak, Roger Sanchez who is senior epidemiologist with the Metropolitan Health District says it may be hard to pinpoint the source of the Listeria food poisoning infection, because two of the patients lived 300 miles apart. He also said that genetic analysis performed found that the strain of bacteria in all patients was identical, which means the victims were likely infected by the same food item.
While this is not a large outbreak or epidemic, what makes it sad is that it infected two people who were fragile and elderly, taking their lives. Sanchez also stated that most who became infected suffered serious underlying health problems, which made them more susceptible to serious complications that can develop from the infection.
So far this year, reports of illness due to Listeria food poisoning in Texas have ranged from January to the most recent case discovered on May 6. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District also believes it is likely that other individuals become ill with food poisoning, but developed only flu-like symptoms and did not become seriously ill.
Individuals who develop flu-like symptoms after eating foods possibly tainted with Listeria should contact a doctor at once. Symptoms often include diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea. While symptoms are usually only mild in healthy individuals, they may become more serious and even life-threatening in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Contact a New York food poisoning attorney if you or a loved one become ill after consuming foods that are possibly contaminated by Listeria.
