Contaminated cheese linked to stillbirths
Listeriosis cases prompt heightened warnings for pregnant women to avoid cold cuts, soft cheeses
Published: Wed, Dec. 19, 2007 12:00AM
Modified Wed, Dec. 19, 2007 05:24AM
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closePregnant women are being warned away from soft cheeses, cold cuts and other foods prone to contamination with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes after the bug caused two stillbirths in Durham and Mecklenburg counties this month.
A third confirmed case of listeriosis caused a Moore County woman to deliver her baby early, though both mother and child are doing fine, the state Division of Public Health reported Tuesday. A fourth case is suspected in Buncombe County, where another pregnant woman suffered stillbirth.
The women in the three confirmed cases are Hispanic. In each instance the woman consumed soft cheeses popular in Hispanic cuisine, though the cheeses were purchased from different sources. Joe Reardon, director of the state's Food and Drug Protection Division, said members of his staff worked all day Saturday and Sunday testing cheese products sold in stores near the areas where women became ill, but they did not identify any specific products as a source of contamination.
HOW TO AVOID LISTERIOSIS
What can pregnant women and others who are at high risk of listeriosis do to prevent illness?
* Thoroughly cook raw beef, pork or poultry.
* Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
* Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.
* Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
* Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
* Do not eat refrigerated pates or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pates and meat spreads may be eaten.
* Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked" or "jerky." Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.
* Wash hands, knives and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.
(N.C. DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH; CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)
PASTEURIZATION, COOKING CAN HELP
WHAT IS LISTERIOSIS? A serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
WHO IS AT RISK? Pregnant women, newborns, adults with weakened immune systems.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild flulike illness.
HOW DANGEROUS IS IT? Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery or infection of the newborn. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 500 die.
HOW DOES LISTERIA GET INTO FOOD? The bacteria are found in soil and water. Animals can carry the bacteria without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products.
CAN IT BE AVOIDED? Yes, by pasteurization and cooking. But in certain ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking but before packaging.
(CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)
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Tests conducted by the state's public health laboratory found that the women became infected with different strains of the bacterium. That confirms that the recent listeriosis cases, which all occurred during the first two weeks of this month, are not related, said Dr. Jeff Engel, North Carolina's state epidemiologist.
"Right now what we have is four cases linked in time only," Engel said. "It does not appear to be a widespread problem."
Engel said the Division of Public Health's warning about Listeria has been distributed in Spanish to Hispanic media outlets.
Listeriosis is relatively uncommon in North Carolina. Last year, there were just 25 reported cases. The state does not track deaths or stillbirths associated with the illness.
Obstetricians routinely advise pregnant women to avoid unpasteurized dairy products, lunch meats, hot dogs, prepared salads and other foods that often become contaminated with Listeria. A woman's immune system becomes weakened during pregnancy, making her more susceptible to bacterial infection. About a third of all cases of listeriosis nationally occur in pregnant women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Often, pregnant women suffer only mild symptoms, which can include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and vomiting. But the bacteria can be deadly to a vulnerable fetus. The bacteria infect the placenta, triggering spontaneous abortion.
jean.fisher@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4753
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