The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a listeria outbreak linked to deli meat and cheese, saying those who are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system are at higher risk for becoming ill.
“If you are in any of these groups, do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot,” the CDC said in a notice issued Wednesday.
The CDC said that deli meat and cheese “purchased at deli counters in multiple states” are the suspected source of the outbreak but added that it “is difficult for investigators to identify a single food” as the source.
So far, 16 people across six states have gotten ill in the outbreak, with 13 needing hospitalization, according to the CDC. One death has been reported.
The CDC said that listeriosis, the infection caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes, can cause severe illness “when the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body.”
