Per CDC
Listeria are bacteria that can contaminate many foods. People who eat those foods can get infected with Listeria. The infection is called listeriosis.
Listeria are most likely to sicken people who are pregnant and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Listeria infection vary depending on the person infected and the part of the body affected.
The bacteria are most likely to sicken people who are pregnant and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
Invasive illness
Invasive means bacteria have spread beyond the intestines (gut). Invasive listeriosis happens when Listeria have spread beyond the intestines.
Symptoms of invasive illness usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria.
Prevention
Listeria is a hardy germ that can be difficult to fully remove from food processing facilities. If a facility has Listeria germs, the germs can spread to food that touches contaminated equipment or surfaces. Listeria can also spread from contaminated food to surfaces. It can even grow on foods kept in the refrigerator. The good news is that Listeria is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
Find out why some foods are more likely to be contaminated with Listeria and learn about recent outbreaks linked to these foods.
To learn more visit: Questions and Answers | Listeria | CDC
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