1 El Paso County Death In Listeria Outbreak

Colorado health officials say listeria killed two people in the state last month as the number of cases spiked.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 has confirmed one of the deaths happened in El Paso County. No other information about the victim has been released.

An epidemiologist for the state health department, Alicia Cronquist, said a total of nine people were sickened by listeria during August, compared with two in a typical month. Seven of the cases were reported this week.

El Paso County Health Dept. Medical Director Dr. Bernadette Albanese told us health experts are a little surprised by the quick spike in cases. “Very unusual to see this clustering of cases in Colorado over the course of a week or more,” she said.

The victims range in age from the 30’s to 90’s, most are older. One woman is pregnant. The victims are from eight Front Range counties – Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson and Weld.

Cronquist says it’s not known if any of the infections are related to a smoked salmon recall by Chicago-based Vita Food Products. She said officials are talking to those who were sickened and their relatives to find out about their recent activities, including what they’ve been eating.

Foods to avoid include refrigerated smoked seafood – like the kind you find at deli counters.

Unpasteurized soft cheese.

Processed meats like uncooked hot dogs and deli and lunch meats.

“You will see fever, body aches, headaches,” said Dr. Albanese, “You can have a stiff neck you can have confusion seizures, and so it’s really a compilation of those symptoms and typically serious enough to get you seeking medical attention and potentially having you hospitalized.”

For more information on this outbreak you can read the Health Department’s News Release here http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/release/2011/090211.pdf