Listeria Outbreak From Bacterial Infection Leaves 5 Hospitalized and 3 Dead in Washington State

Three people died, and two others got hospitalized after a listeria outbreak occurred in Washington state, according to the statement of authorities from the Washington Department of Health.

Alarming Cases of Bacterial Infection

Over the past several months, five cases of listeriosis have been reported in Washington state, all involving patients older than 60 with compromised immune systems.

Although this figure might seem small, it already comprises a fifth to half of the expected cases in the area throughout the entire year, according to the data provided by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. This is enough to qualify the infection as a listeria outbreak and catch the attention of health authorities.

The infections have been so severe that five affected adults - two men and three women - were hospitalized. Last, on July 21, the health authorities declared that three of the five patients had died.

Upon investigation, the five cases of listeriosis infection do not seem random, but they do seem related. This is because four of the five cases originated from Pierce County, while the other came from Thurston, its neighboring county.

Using the whole genome sequencing method, the experts found that the bacteria from each case possess similar genetic fingerprints, suggesting that the infections likely originated from the same source. However, the health authorities are yet to track down the nature of this specific source, so they still cannot decide the food that needs to be pulled from the market.

In the same month last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the hospitalization of 22 people and the death of one patient from a multi-state listeria outbreak.

What is Listeria Infection?

Listeria infection or listeriosis refers to an illness caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes which a person can acquire after consuming contaminated food. This severe infection usually affects newborns, pregnant women, older adults, and others with compromised immune systems.

The signs and symptoms of this disease vary depending on the infected person and the affected part of the body. It could only be a mild disease for pregnant women, but it can cause severe conditions in the fetus or newborn baby. Adults 65 years and older and those with weak immune systems can develop acute bloodstream infections or brain infections. The other parts of the body that can get infected include joints, bones, and the areas of the chest and abdomen.

When the bacteria start spreading beyond the gut, it causes invasive listeriosis with symptoms that appear 1 to 4 weeks after a person gets contaminated. People who acquire invasive listeriosis usually require hospital treatment since about one in five infection cases result in death.

To protect oneself from listeria infection, it is best to follow proper food sanitation since the listeriosis bacteria can be transmitted during harvesting, processing, packing, transporting, or storing food. Aside from food sources, the listeria bacteria can also thrive in soil, water, decaying plants and animals, and other moist environments.