Listeriosis outbreak in Spain
Health authorities in Andalucia, Spain have reported a listeriosis outbreak associated with eating a roasted meat product. The meat is produced by the brand “La Mechá” in Seville.
What is listeriosis?
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. People can get listeriosis by eating food contaminated with this bacterium.
Who is at greater risk for listeriosis?
Anyone can become ill from eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, although the disease affects mainly the following groups of people:
- Pregnant women (and their unborn children)
- Newborns
- Adults with weakened immune systems (e.g. persons with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes)
- The elderly
What are the symptoms of listeriosis?
Infection in a healthy adult can have no symptoms or causes a mild flu-like illness. In immunocompromised and elderly people the infection can occasionally spread to the central nervous system causing meningitis and/or septicaemia, with symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance or convulsions.
Pregnant women who are infected may have no symptoms or experience only a mild flu-like illness. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, meningitis in the newborn or even miscarriage.
Further information
More information on the outbreak (in Spanish) is available on the website of the Andalucia Health Service - Consejería de Salud y Familias