Eight people sick in DMV after multistate Listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meat

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — A multistate Listeria outbreak has left six people in Maryland and two people in Virginia sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Officials said the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes is linked to meat sliced at deli counters.

So far, 28 people from 12 states have been hospitalized and two deaths have been reported; one from Illinois and one from New Jersey, officials said.

After interviewing several sick people, CDC officials said 16 out of 18 of them reported eating deli meats sliced at deli counters. The investigation into which deli meat may be contaminated is ongoing.

So far, no information shows people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats, officials said.

Individuals who are at a higher risk of getting sick with Listeria should avoid eating deli meats sliced at deli counters unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees before serving, according to CDC officials.

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Individuals should also clean their refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced deli meats.

Listeria can cause severe illness when the bacteria spreads beyond the gut to other parts of the body.

Pregnant people typically experience fever, fatigue and muscle aches, officials said. Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to officials.

Those who are not pregnant can experience headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions in addition to fever and muscle aches.

Symptoms usually start one to four weeks after eating contaminated food with Listeria, but can also start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after, according to officials.

Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of Listeria and recently ate sliced deli meats.

Find more information about the ongoing investigation HERE.