New deaths, cases reported in listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals: CDC

HONOLULU (KHON) — Additional cases and deaths connected to a listeria outbreak related to prepared pasta meals have been confirmed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC and other federal regulators first warned of a multistate outbreak of listeria that was connected to ready-to-eat pasta meals in June. Among the impacted foods were meals sold at Walmart, Albertsons, Trader Joe's, Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Sprouts.

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that pasta within the meals had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The bacteria can cause listeria infections, which can lead to mild illness, including fever and diarrhea, or more serious problems. It's most dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.

"The classic symptoms of that is feeling very tired, fever, headaches, stiff neck," Dr. Wes Young, Hawaii Travel Clinic medical director, said while describing the infection, which impacts "the brain and spinal cord."

In an update last week, the CDC reported seven new cases linked to the multistate listeria outbreak. Six of those patients required hospitalization, and two died. The newest deaths, reported in Hawaii and Oregon, bring the death toll to six.

In total, 27 cases have been reported in 18 states. Since cases have to be confirmed by testing, it's possible that additional people became ill but never reported their infections.

The CDC said it's unclear whether the new cases ate food that has already been recalled or if other foods have been contaminated.

The Hawaii State Department of Health confirmed that the two new cases in its state, one of which was fatal, were infected with the same outbreak strain linked to the prepared pasta meals. However, the exact source of the cases have not yet been determined.

"We haven't identified the source of the infection for these two individuals, but the investigation continues. It can be challenging to know everything that somebody has eaten in the period prior," said Hawaii Department of Health deputy state epidemiologist Dr. Nathan Tan.

Investigators looked into the food that the two infected individuals had eaten and purchased in the month before they got sick, but both cases showed no link to the recalled products.

In addition to Hawaii, 17 other states have seen at least one confirmed case of listeria linked to the ongoing outbreak. California, Oregon, and Texas each have three confirmed cases, while Hawaii, Louisiana, and Michigan each have two. Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington have all confirmed single cases.

One death each has been confirmed in Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. According to the CDC, a pregnancy-associated illness resulted in fetal loss.

"It's not a common cause of foodborne illness, but a common cause of serious foodborne illness. And so that, for that reason, you know, we take these reports very seriously," Dr. Tan said.

The public is advised to either return the recalled products for a refund or simply throw them out.

"Next thing to do would just be to monitor for symptoms or signs of infection," Dr. Tan said. "And if you're starting to feel ill and you consumed the recalled product, then it's important for you to go ahead and contact your medical provider and get further advice at that point."

The CDC recommends that you do not eat the recalled foods and to either return them or throw them out.