Although far fewer Americans are infected with listeria than other foodborne illnesses each year, the bacteria has a much higher fatality rate.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a link between listeria bacteria found in Blue Bell Creameries products and the recent listeria outbreak in mid and Southern United States. So far three people have died and another seven have been hospitalized in Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Blue Bell, which sells ice cream, frozen yogurt, and other frozen snacks, voluntarily recalled all of its products from store shelves Monday. Listeria was found in products from several plants and the company said it still has no idea how the bacteria was introduced.
Between 2009 and 2011, there were 1,651 reported cases of listeria infection. Of them, 292 died, representing a case-fatality rate of 21 percent, according to the CDC. Most cases were in adults older than 65 years old (58 percent of cases). Pregnant women were also susceptible to the disease (14 percent of cases), which caused the death of the fetuses in some women.
