As of September 23, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed 55 illnesses and eight deaths linked to the contaminated cantaloupes from 14 states. Two people have died in colourado, one in Maryland, four in New Mexico, and one in Oklahoma.
Many, including listeria lawyer William Marler, believe that number will rise as more people are confirmed as part of the outbreak. The contaminated cantaloupes were produced by Jensen Farms, of Colorado (US), and distributed by Fronterra Produce.
Marler said: “Listeria is one of the deadliest foodborne bacteria we deal with, so in an outbreak of this magnitude, we may very well see the death count increase. Of the dozens of people who have contacted us in this outbreak, some are awaiting health department confirmation that they are officially part of this outbreak. I suspect there are many more out there who are in the same boat.”
According to the FDA, cantaloupes from Jensen Farms and Fronterra Produce were shipped to at least 25 states. Marler added: “From what we’re seeing from distribution numbers and health department reports, by early next week I expect the CDC to add two deaths in Kansas, one in Missouri, and one in Nebraska, for a total of at least twelve dead from eating cantaloupe. Sadly, I’m not sure it will stop there.”
The current cantaloupe Listeria outbreak ranks as the fourth deadliest foodborne illness outbreak in US history.
Source: Marler Clark
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