I am not the best at math, but the last several posts I have made about listeria cases in Colorado, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia tells me that the CDC numbers of 22 ill with 2 deaths is behind the times.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is now finally warning people (Governor Rick would have gotten to it if he wasn’t running for President) not to eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Colorado, distributed by Frontera Produce, because they may be contaminated with Listeria. Both Texas cases – one in North Texas and one in Southeast Texas – were hospitalized.

The Texas Department of Health does have some good ideas:

People should wash their hands before and after handling melon. The surface of melons should be washed and dried with a clean cloth or paper towel before cutting. Cut melon should be promptly refrigerated at less than 41° F – growth range for listeria 29.3° to 112°F.

Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea and vomiting. People with these symptoms should consult a physician. Symptoms typically occur three to 70 days after exposure. The disease affects primarily older people, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems.