Six more deaths linked to Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak

Six more people have died and more than a dozen have been sickened in a multistate listeria outbreak stemming from Boar’s Head deli meat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update Wednesday.

The number of deaths is now nine, and 57 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak, which the CDC said was the largest listeriosis outbreak since 2011, when more than 30 people died from affected cantaloupe. The outbreak has been reported in 18 states.

On July 25, Boar’s Head recalled its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst over concerns it contained the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The meat was produced at its Jarratt, Virginia, facility.

The recall was expanded days later to include 7 million pounds of meat, which the company said is every item produced at the facility.

“Food safety is our absolute priority, and the health and well-being of our consumers are paramount,” Boar’s Head said in an Aug. 15 update. “We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on affected families. No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness.”

The deaths have occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia. The ill patients were 32 to 94 years old, with a median age of 77.

Data shows meats sliced at delis, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, were contaminated with listeria. The bacteria are spread easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food, the CDC said. Refrigeration does not kill them.

Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic. If the listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms can include stiff neck, headache and loss of balance. Listeria can be very serious for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and people over 65.