RENO, Nev. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an investigation into a Listeria outbreak following 10 hospitalizations across Nevada and California. The investigation began on Saturday, but the CDC has not disclosed which counties in Nevada are affected.
The outbreak has been traced to ready-to-eat foods produced by Fresh and Ready Foods LLC, based in San Fernando. Affected items include sandwiches and protein snacks. Although hospitalizations have only been reported in Nevada and California, the products were sold in four states: Nevada, California, Arizona, and Washington.
According to the CDC, those infected range in age from 41 to 87, with 90% being male. Symptoms of Listeria can vary but often include headaches, gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea, and fatigue.
Dr. Timothy Southern, Director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, said, "Most cases of Listeriosis do not require any kind of medical intervention. Individuals are often counseled by a healthcare provider to continue to hydrate. The disease tends to be somewhat self-limiting. In some cases of severe disease, an individual may need to be hospitalized, and in those cases the healthcare provider will determine the best course of treatment for the individual, which may be fluids, it may be antibiotics."
Dr. Southern emphasized the importance of paying attention to recall alerts, noting, "One of the unique things about Listeria is that it thrives in cold environments. We would ask that people pay attention to those recalls, we definitely want to make sure that individuals who have food affected by recalls are not consuming that food. That food should be discarded, and any surface that's come into contact with the food should be sanitized."
The CDC warns that there may be more cases than currently reported, as some individuals may not seek medical attention.
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