One Person From Illinois Died In Multi-State Listeria Outbreak
Personal Injury - July 21, 2024
Sliced Deli Meat Linked To Listeria Outbreak That Led To Two Deaths And 28 Hospitalizations Across 12 States
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 21, 2024) – At least two people have died in Illinois and New Jersey following a multi-state listeria outbreak that left 28 other people hospitalized.
The Centers for Disease Control announced the listeria outbreak on Friday. Investigators believe that it is linked to sliced deli meat.
The CDC has estimated that the number of people who have been sickened by the outbreak may be much higher than is currently reported.
Symptoms of severe illness often do not appear until 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food. It remains unknown how the outbreak started.
But it is not believed that prepackaged meat was the cause of the outbreak.
Liability For Listeria Outbreaks
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause serious illness when ingested. It is most commonly transmitted through contaminated vegetables, dairy products, meats, and ready-to-eat foods. Outbreaks remain fairly common. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.” There are a number of symptoms commonly caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Convulsions
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any listeria outbreak. A manufacturer could be liable if they failed to maintain a clean environment, which allowed an outbreak to occur. In particular, Listeria may be transferred from deli slicing machines that were not properly cleaned. Suppliers and distributors could also be liable if contamination occurred due to improper storage or poor holding practices. It is important that certain steps be taken after any listeria outbreak.
- Victims should seek medical attention.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The source of the outbreak should be determined.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.
It can be hard to know where to begin after being affected by a listeria outbreak. Many victims become seriously ill, and a large number of them die. Sadly, though, food processors and distributors will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility when an outbreak occurs. Any person who becomes ill due to listeria may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help After Listeria Outbreaks
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who died. It is our sincere hope that all of those hospitalized will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into how this outbreak started.
Do you need more information about a listeria outbreak? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here for you. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we may be able to help. You can reach out to our office anytime at (312) 564-4256.