WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Bad cantaloupe behind listeria outbreak

October 5, 2011

Investigators are searching for the source of listeria contamination at Jensen Farms in Colorado. The bacteria was traced back to the cantaloupe farm and recall was ordered in mid-September.

So far, listeriosis has sickened at least 100 people in 20 states and killed 18. Officials warn those numbers will likely go up.

"It can take several weeks to become sick after the person eats the contaminated food," said Dr. Robert Tauxe of the Centers for Disease Control. "We expect to hear about more cases probably into the middle part of October."

Symptoms are flu-like, so many don't know they are infected until it's too late.

"We received a call from the coroner and said we've been contacted by the hospital, your father died of listeria," Gayla Graham Ngo said.

William Beach, 87, had been healthy up until contracting listeriosis. The illness is very serious in the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

What makes listeria unique is that unlike other food bacteria, it continues to live and grow when refrigerated, and can possibly contaminate other foods around it.

The best defense against listeria is to make sure you wash and scrub all fruits and vegetables before eating, even those with hard outer skin.

"Obviously there is more work to be done to keep outbreaks like this from happening again. And that means making our food supply safer from farm to table," Tauxe said.

Jensen Farms is already facing several lawsuits from people who got sick or lost family members.

There have been no incidents of listeria reported in our region related to cantaloupes.

Click here for more information on the outbreak.