At least nine deaths have been confirmed after the largest listeria outbreak since 2011, caused by dozens of health violations at a Boar’s Head deli facility.
A Boar’s Head deli plant in Jarratt, Virginia, has been under investigation after nearly seven million pounds of product were recalled due to a listeria outbreak that may have started as early as May. The outbreak stretches across at least seven states, and the USDA says that some of that product had been shipped to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. At least 57 people have been hospitalized after contracting the disease, nine of which have died. This is the largest outbreak since 2011, according to health officials.
After further investigation into the plant, government officials discovered 69 instances of health regulation violations that have been reported as repeat violations over the past year. Officials describe all of these in detail via documents that have been released by the federal Freedom of Information Act, which is now accessible to the public. Officials state that there were several instances of mold, flies, undiscarded waste, and even pools of blood within the facility. Despite numerous warnings about these violations, the facility continued to run without resolving these issues.
The facility was consequently shut down in late July, and according to the U.S. Agriculture Department, the plant will be unable to resume operations “until the establishment is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product.”
Listeria, the more common name for listeriosis, is a bacterial disease found most commonly in improperly processed deli meats or unpasteurized dairy products. While it can be treated if caught early enough, it can still lead to devastating illnesses or even death if untreated. People with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women or anyone over the age of 65, are more susceptible to the disease and can face higher risk than others. The biggest problems with listeria bacteria is its resilience to cold and the time it takes for symptoms to appear. The bacteria can survive refrigerated and even freezing temperatures, and symptoms can appear almost immediately or up to ten weeks after consumption of the bacteria. By then, it could be too late.
Kristina Knotts, a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, explained why listeria is such a dangerous and unique bacteria.
“It’s one of those things we just don’t know why… we don’t know how much a person has to ingest, we don’t know any of that,” she said.
She went on to explain that the bacteria is different from most other species due to its unpredictable properties, such as its resistance to cold and its unusual way of spreading and causing infections. People who are immunocompromised are even more susceptible to the bacteria, and people who are infected may not even be aware they are until weeks later.
For more information about listeria, readers can check the Mayo Clinic website. Those who believe they might have contaminated Boar’s Head products can find the total list of recalled products on the USDA website, with more specific information.