What is listeriosis? – 8 symptoms of deadly infection as salads & spinach recalled amid outbreak probe after person dies
due to the possible presence of
listeria monocytogenes.
The potentially fatal bacterium can cause
,
and may result in mild flue-like symptoms or no symptoms at all in the affected person.
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The condition can affect some people more than others
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3
Here are 8 Listeria symptoms to watch out for
Credit: Getty
Listeriosis is an infection in the body caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogene and usually comes from eating
While all food types can be affected, the bacteria is most commonly found in chilled and ready to eat foods.
Last week, nine people fell ill with the infection and one person passed away as health
bosses probed an "extensive outbreak"
.
A
full list of over 200 recalled ready-made meals and side dishes that were pulled from the shelves last week
.
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And all of the information surrounding the spinach and mixed salad leaves recall for the same reason can
To kill listeria, food must be
Although its rare, some people may catch Listeriosis from someone else who has it.
For example, if they haven't washed their hands and then cook food that you consume.
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What is Listeria and why is it dangerous?
For some, Listeriosis has few or no symptoms, or mild problems that only last a few days.
The infection is most commonly flu-like, with symptoms including a runny nose, a high temperature, aches, pains, or chills.
In some cases, it can create gastronomical issues including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
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SYMPTOMS OF LISTERIA INFECTION
SYMPTOMS of a listeria infection partly depend on where in the body that the infection happens.
If it affects the gut, you might have:
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Vomiting
These symptoms often start within a day of eating tainted food and they tend to go away within a few days.
The germs that cause a listeria infection also can spread through the blood and into the brain and spinal cord.
If this happens, you might have:
Fever and chills
Flu-like symptoms
Diarrhea or an upset stomach
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Seizures
And
The good news is that Listeriosis is not serious for most people.
But the people who have a higher risk of serious
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newborn babies
pregnant women
people with a condition which weakens their immune system (cancer, diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease)
people receiving treatment that could weaken their immune system (chemotherapy or steroid tablets)
Risk also increases with age, meaning older people are more at risk of health complications from the infection.
HOW TO TREAT
Listeriosis usually goes away by itself within a few days.
Those infected are advised to stay home if possible and drink a lot of liquid.
Those who are at a higher risk of serious illness might need to take antibiotic medication.
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But health bosses have shared some tips on how to avoid the infection.
The first is to keep chilled, ready to eat foods cold in a working fridge.
And those foods should be eaten within 24 hours of being taken out of the fridge.
Food should also be eaten, cooked, or frozen before it's best before date.
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And raw food should be kept separate from ready to eat food.
WHAT IF I ATE THE FOOD?
If you have eaten any recalled foods and are feeling well, you do not need to do anything.
However, the FSA advise that you should seek medical advice if you become unwell within 70 days from the day of eating them.
If you have eaten any recalled foods and you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
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The infection is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, often found in food
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