Collegeville Area Female Tests Positive for Listeria

The Montgomery County Health Department released the following information:

The Montgomery County Health Department announces a single case of listeriosis associated with the multi-state outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

The patient is an elderly female who resides in the Collegeville area. The patient became ill in early September, was hospitalized and has recovered. Cantaloupe collected from the resident’s home tested negative and the patient also traveled outside of the state prior to becoming ill.

Currently, there have been 123 cases of listeria infections reported in 26 states.
The source of the outbreak is whole cantaloupe grown at Jensen Farms in
Granada, CO. The cantaloupes are sold under the name Rocky Ford
cantaloupes and should not be consumed. Public health officials continue to
collaborate with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the
extent of the distribution of the contaminated products.

Symptoms of listeria infections include fever, muscle aches and sometimes
nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms of listeria can develop up to two months after
eating contaminated food. Infected pregnant women may experience a mild, flulike illness.

Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery or infection of the newborn. High-risk individuals experiencing these symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the physician or health-care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Listeria infections often are associated with contaminated raw fruits and vegetables, hot dogs, deli meats, cold cuts and soft cheeses. To prevent listeria infections, individuals should always thoroughly wash all raw produce; heat hot dogs, deli meats and cold cuts until they are steaming; and avoid milk or soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleaning the inside walls and shelves of your refrigerator with hot water and liquid soap will help prevent cross contamination of other products.

If you suspect that you or family members are experiencing any symptoms
related to listeriosis or any food-borne illness, you should seek immediate
medical attention. For more information on prevention, visit here. For outbreak updates, visit here.