Five more deaths linked to Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak

Five more people have died and more than a dozen sickened in a multistate listeria outbreak stemming from Boar’s Head deli meat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update Wednesday.

The total number of deaths is now eight. A total of 57 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak, which the CDC said was the largest listeriosis outbreak since 2011 when more than 30 people died from affected cantaloupe.

On July 25, Boar's Head recalled its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst over concerns it contained the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The meat was produced at its Jarratt, Virginia, facility.

The recall was expanded days later to include seven million pounds of meat, which the company said is every item produced at the facility.

"Food safety is our absolute priority, and the health and well-being of our consumers are paramount," Boar's Head said in an Aug. 15 update. "We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on affected families. No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness."

The deaths have occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia. The ill patients were 32 to 94 years old, with a median age of 77.

Data show meats sliced at delis, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, were contaminated with listeria. The bacteria is spread easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands, and food, the CDC said. Refrigeration does not kill the bacteria.

Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic. If the listeria infection spreads to your nervous system symptoms can include staff neck, headache and loss of balance. Listeria can be very serious for people with a weakened immune system, pregnant women and people over 65.