The CDC reported today a total of 133 persons infected with any of the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 26 states. All illnesses started on or after July 31, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (2), Colorado (37), Idaho (2), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (6), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (14), New York (2), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (11), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (18), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (4). Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after July 31, 2011. Ages range from <1 to 96 years, with a median age of 77 years. Most ill persons are over 60 years old. Fifty-six percent of ill persons are female. Among the 130 ill persons with available information on whether they were hospitalized, 128 (98%) were hospitalized. State and local health departments in these and other states are investigating other listeriosis illnesses to determine if they are part of this outbreak.
Twenty-eight deaths have been reported: Colorado (7), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (2), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (5), New York (2), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2), and Wyoming (1). Among persons who died, ages range from 48 to 96 years, with a median age of 84 years. In addition, one woman pregnant at the time of illness had a miscarriage.
Four of the illnesses were related to a pregnancy; one was diagnosed in a newborn and three were diagnosed in pregnant women. One miscarriage has been reported.