Infant passes away, 10 fall ill in listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat

A listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat meat products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. in South Carolina has resulted in the death of an infant and sickness in 10 adults across four states. The outbreak has affected individuals with Asian heritage, with one person each in New York and New Jersey, two in Illinois, and seven in California. The infected infant was a twin whose sibling also died, although their death could not be linked to listeria. The mother of the twins was also sickened but recovered. Products contaminated with listeria were discovered during a routine inspection of the Yu Shang Food plant by USDA inspectors, leading to a recall on Nov. 9 and an expanded recall on Thursday. The CDC found a genetic footprint for listeria in the outbreak, suggesting that all cases were linked to the same source. The recall includes nearly two dozen varieties of prepared meat, such as Braised Pork Belly In Brown Sauce and Seasoned Chicken Quarter Leg. Anyone with the recalled products is advised to discard them, and affected freezers and refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned. Listeria infection can be life-threatening for older adults, individuals with weakened immunity, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, and diarrhea, with potential complications for pregnant women and the elderly.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com