State health department investigating listeria outbreak linked to
cheese
Pregnant
women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems most at risk
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[July 06, 2013]
CHICAGO -- Illinois Department
of Public Health Director LaMar Hasbrouck is urging consumers who
may have purchased Les Frères cheese made by Crave Brothers
Farmstead Classics Cheese, a Wisconsin producer, to dispose of it,
as it has been linked to a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.
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One Illinois resident reported becoming ill after eating the cheese
in mid-May. Consumers who may have purchased Crave Brothers
Farmstead Classics are urged to dispose of the following cheeses:
Les Frères, Petit Frère and Petit Frère with Truffles.
"Listeriosis infection can cause serious illness, particularly to
vulnerable populations, including newborns, pregnant women and
people with compromised immune systems," said Dr. Hasbrouck. "If you
still have any of these cheeses in your refrigerator or freezer,
throw them out immediately, and if you are experiencing any symptoms
of listeriosis, please see your health care provider right away."
Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff
neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms often
begin three weeks after infection, but can take anywhere from three
to 70 days to appear. Infected pregnant women may experience only a
mild, flu-like illness; however, infections during pregnancy can
lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection
of the newborn. Approximately 25 to 35 cases of listeriosis are
reported in Illinois each year.
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IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the ongoing
investigation. IDPH is testing a sample of the cheese and is
advising grocery stores and distributors to pull the products and
not sell them until further information is available.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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