The Chicago Sun Times Reports One Indiana Listeria Case
A Colorado farm is voluntarily recalling cantaloupes shipped to at least 18 states, including Illinois and Indiana, after the fruits were linked to a multi-state outbreak of bacteria-borne illness. While reports vary as to how many people have been affected, DNA analysis has now confirmed at least 22 people who ate the cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford growing region in Colorado contracted listeriosis. Among these is one person in Indiana. No illnesses have been reported in Illinois.
Among the confirmed cases, there have been two deaths, one in Colorado and on in New Mexico. These numbers are likely to rise, however, as there are many more reports awaiting confirmation that they are linked to the Jensen Farm outbreak.
Food safety officials linked the outbreak to whole cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Granada, Colorado, according to the CDC. The company is voluntarily recalling the cantaloupes, which were shipped from the Rocky Ford growing region of southern Colorado between July 29 and September 10.
Affected cantaloupes may be labeled “Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, USA, Pesticide Free, Jensenfarms.com, Sweet Rocky Fords” but not all recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, according to the FDA.
Consumers are urged to throw out the cantaloupes in a sealed container so that children, animals and wildlife can’t eat them, according to the FDA.
What is Listeriosis, and how do I know if I have it?
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Listeriosis, which is caused by eating food contaminated by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, can be a serious disease. In the United States, an estimated 1,850 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, approximately 425 deaths occur. In Illinois, approximately 20 cases of listeriosis are reported annually; about 25 percent of these cases prove fatal.
A person with listeriosis usually has a fever, muscle aches and, sometimes, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
Accordingly, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) recommends that a pregnant woman and her fetus see a health care provider if she suspects infection. A healthcare provider may collect several samples to test for Listeria because there is no routine screening test for listeriosis during pregnancy, as there is for rubella or some other congenital infections.
If you have symptoms such as fever or stiff neck, you should consult your physician. A blood or spinal fluid test (to cultivate the bacteria) will show if you have listeriosis. During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if symptoms are due to listeriosis.
How is listeriosis treated?
According to the ISDH, antibiotics are available to treat the infection in all persons, regardless of age. If infection occurs when a woman is pregnant, antibiotics given promptly can often prevent infection of her baby. Left untreated, infection can be fatal.
Is listeriosis a reportable disease?
In Indiana and Illinois, YES. Health care providers or laboratories must report cases of listeriosis to the local health department (LHD), and subsequently to the Illinois Department of Public Health or the Indiana State Department of Health, within 72 hours of diagnosis. The LHD will contact all cases diagnosed with Listeria, so a possible exposure can be determined to help prevent others from becoming ill.
If you Contracted Listeria, Let Simon & Luke Help You
If you or a loved one have contracted listeria after consuming cantaloupes, and have been contacted by the health department, then you are likely related to this outbreak. If so, you are entitled to significant compensation from Jensen Farms and its insurers, including payment for all of your past and future medical bills, pharmacy bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other damages.
Simon & Luke’s groundbreaking work on behalf of victims in several recent national food borne illness outbreaks (Peter Pan peanut butter, Castleberry’s chili, Nestle cookie dough, Peanut Corporation of America Peanut products, JBS Swift beef, Daniele salami, Subway sandwiches, Sangar celery, Wright County Egg / Hillandale Farms eggs, Cargill ground turkey, and Agromod papayas, to name a few) have been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media.
We have represented several victims in the two recent listeria outbreaks – those related to Chang Farms sprouts and Sangar celery.
The firm has represented over 3000 victims of food-borne outbreaks in the past four years alone, and has collected over $450,000,000 for its clients. The firm regularly publishes articles about food safety and litigation at www.myfoodpoisoninglawyer.com, which are read by viewers in over 140 countries.
The firm is currently accepting Jensen Farms cantaloupe listeria cases. Simon & Luke is actively investigating this outbreak and represents several victims who have become ill from Listeria monocytogenes.
Simon & Luke’s listeria lawyers and attorneys can help you with your Jensen Farms cantaloupe listeria outbreak, claim, lawsuit, and settlement in Indiana, Illinois and all other affected states.
If you have questions or information about this outbreak, please call us toll free at 1-888-335-4901 or contact us by email at ron@simonluke.com – we are here to help you.
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