From the CDC:
Up to 10 percent of the people in the world have an unwelcome guest in their intestinal tract: a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. The listeria germ can also be found in soil, water, and the digestive systems of many animals. Like many other common germs, it has an unfortunate habit of showing up in food. Most people who come into contact with the listeria germ never get sick. But when the germ hits the wrong person at the wrong time, it can be dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 2,500 Americans get seriously ill from listeria infections -- also called listeriosis -- every year. About 500 of these people die.
As with many other infections, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are especially vulnerable, especially those with AIDS. People with AIDS are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than those whose immune systems are healthy. Pregnant women are another major target, thanks to changes in their immune system. In fact, listeria infections are 20 times more common in pregnant women than in other healthy adults. And when pregnant women get infected, their newborns can catch the germ, too.
According to the CDC, people with cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease and those who take glucocorticosteroid medications (e.g. oral prednisone), such as those taking them for asthma or other autoimmune diseases, are also at risk for listeriosis. Most healthy people don't need to worry much about listeria."
The people that died were already in the hospital with kidney issues and elderly.... |