THE CANADIAN PRESS

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

TORONTO - Some key facts regarding Canada's ongoing listeriosis outbreak and the related recall of ready-to-eat meat products made by Maple Leaf Foods:

THE ILLNESS: Caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, often found in soil, vegetation, animal feed and feces; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, headache, constipation, persistent fever. If it spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions.

THE DEFENCE: Keep cold foods cold; thoroughly cook or boil foods such as hot dogs and poultry until steaming hot; avoid raw, unpasteurized milk; wash raw vegetables and hands before, during and after handling food; throw out prepared meats that can't be conclusively ruled out as being part of the recall.

THE VULNERABLE: People with weak immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women. Although the infection may be mild in a pregnant woman, there could be a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or potentially fatal infection in the baby after birth.

THE VICTIMS: Nine deaths, eight in Ontario and one in B.C., have been directly linked to the outbreak, while the deaths of another six people with listeriosis are under investigation to determine if the outbreak was to blame.

THE CASES: Some 29 cases have been conclusively linked to the outbreak, including the nine confirmed deaths and the six deaths under investigation. An additional 35 cases remain under investigation.

THE RECALL: Maple Leaf Foods and several other manufacturers who use Maple Leaf meats in their products have recalled more than 220 varieties of meat and prepared sandwiches, at an estimated cost of $20 million. A complete list is available at www.inspection.gc.ca.

THE CONNECTION: The strain of Listeria responsible for the recall matches that responsible for the outbreak, but both federal officials and Maple Leaf executives say more tests are needed to determine whether tainted meat is to blame for the deaths.

Sources: Canadian Food Inspection Agency, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, MayoClinic.com