How does Listeriosis spread?
After the recent outbreak of Listeriosis, here are a few facts about the disease.
According to The Department of Health, Listeriosis is usually spread through the ingestion of contaminated food products most frequently with raw or unpasteurised milk and soft cheeses, but also vegetables, processed foods, ready-to-eat meats and smoked fish products.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
- Symptoms start presenting them self between 3 – 70 days
- Flu like illness with diarrhoea including fever, general body pains, vomiting and weakness.
- Infection of the blood stream which is called septiceamia.
- Meningoencephalitis (infection of the brain).
Individuals at high risk of developing severe disease include newborns, the elderly, pregnant women, persons with weak immunity such as HIV, diabetes, cancer, chronic liver or kidney disease.
How can I prevent infection?
Unlike most other foodborne pathogens, Listeria monocytogenes can grow in refrigerated foods that are
contaminated.
To prevent this, it is recommended to have fridge temperatures below 4 degrees C; and freezer temperatures below -18 degrees C.
Therefore, those at high risk of listeriosis should avoid the following foods:
- Raw or unpasteurized milk, or dairy products that contain unpasteurized milk;
- Soft cheeses (e.g. feta, goat, Brie)
- Foods from delicatessen counters (e.g. prepared salads, cold meats) that have not been heated/reheated adequately
- Refrigerated pâtés