Topline
Washington state health officials have linked a small listeria outbreak to contaminated, improperly cleaned milkshake machines at a local restaurant—but although the infection isn’t life-threatening in most healthy people, it can be fatal to pregnant people, seniors and those with a weakened immune system.
Listeria Bacteria Under Magnification.
Key Facts
A listeria outbreak in Tacoma, Washington, resulted in the hospitalization of six people between February and July and the death of three, according to a report by the Washington State Health Department released last week.
The same strain of listeria that caused the outbreak was found in milkshakes sold from the Frugals burger restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, according to genetic fingerprinting, though no other location has been tied to the outbreak.
Officials discovered the ice cream machines were not properly cleaned, causing all milkshake flavors to be contaminated (Frugals—which has several locations in Washington and Montana—posted a statement to its Instagram page saying it was “deeply saddened” to learn about the outbreak and is “working with PCHD to identify and contain the source of listeria”).
Though the restaurant stopped using the machine on August 8, listeria can cause people to become sick up to 70 days later, so the state is advising people who had a milkshake from this location between May 29 and August 7 to contact their healthcare providers.
The restaurant also said that although the bacteria wasn’t found in any machines at any other locations, all milkshake sales will be halted and all milkshake machines will be sent in for testing and cleaning.
All of the six people hospitalized during the previous outbreak had compromised immune systems and two people had recently eaten milkshakes from the Tacoma, Washington Frugals location.
Key Background
Listeria (or listeriosis) is a foodborne bacterial illness caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes that doesn’t typically cause severe illness, but can be dangerous for pregnant people, those 65 years and older and people with a weakened immune system. Listeria infection is passed when contaminated food or water is ingested and is usually caused by eating improperly handled deli meat and unpasteurized milk products, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is not contagious from person to person. Past outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to raw or processed fruits and vegetables, uncooked poultry, hotdogs, deli meats, sausages, raw or smoked fish and seafood, unpasteurized milks, ice cream, cheeses and raw pet food. Most healthy people won’t come down with severe symptoms, but it can be fatal to newborns and unborn babies, pregnant people, people 65 years and older and those with a compromised immune system. In pregnant people, symptoms include fever, headache, chills, miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth or a lifethreatening infection in the newborn. In high risk people who aren’t pregnant, symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches, confusion, convulsions, loss of balance and confusion. Healthy people who develop a non-invasive illness will typically have diarrhea and a fever. People with mild symptoms typically don’t need any treatment, but those with severe illnesses can be treated with antibiotics.
Big Number
1,600. That’s how many people the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates gets sick with listeria in the U.S. every year. Of that 1,600, about 260 people die.
Tangent
Earlier this month, a New York-based frozen food company, Real Kosher Ice Cream, recalled its soft serve on the go ice cream and sorbet cups due to a potential listeria outbreak. These cups were distributed to several states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Colorado, DC, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Any products made up until August 4 were recalled and the company has stopped production until the Food and Drug Administration finishes its investigation. Two people have been hospitalized in connection with the ice cream, according to the CDC—one person in Pennsylvania and one in New York. Though sold in stores, the ice cream is also distributed in schools, nursing homes, camps and long-term care facilities. Affected flavors include vanilla chocolate, caramel, razzle, peanut butter lite and sorbet strawberry mango.