Urgent warning for millions of Aussies over listeria outbreak

Nine listeria infections in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria prompted health officials to initiate a nationwide inquiry.

Listeriosis is a condition that may be brought on by consuming tainted food and is especially harmful for pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with impaired immune systems.

Although the majority of healthy individuals won’t become sick after consuming the usual germs, listeriosis can be exceedingly harmful or even fatal for weak individuals.

On Saturday, an outbreak in a Queensland hospital was verified, raising concerns that hospitals throughout the state may have been exposed to tainted food.

A spokeswoman for Mater Hospital in Brisbane stated that “a small number of cases” have been found in medical facilities in South East Queensland.

“Affected patients have been treated in accordance with best practice,” they said.

A nationwide investigation into the epidemic has been coordinated, according to the spokesman, by the federal government’s OzFoodNet in response to instances in NSW and Victoria.

To keep Australians safe from food poisoning, the network keeps an eye on foodborne illnesses across the nation and takes action when necessary.

Dr. John Gerrard, the senior health officer for Queensland, stated that officials are looking into “several potential food sources.”

There is currently no proof that consuming food while in a hospital caused the illness, he added.

Nine listeria cases are now under investigation, five of which were found in Queensland.

“Queensland Health is currently the lead agency in one of three multijurisdictional foodborne disease outbreak investigations across the country due to listeria,” Dr. Gerrard said.

Since no one common dish could be directly linked to every case, the source of the virus is now unknown.

He pointed out that the four Queenslanders who were impacted by the epidemic were all over 40 and had preexisting medical conditions.

After exposure to listeria, symptoms of listeriosis might take up to two months to appear.

Dr. Gerrard emphasized that Queensland had “not above average” numbers of listeria cases reported to the authorities.

Although listeria is not frequent, he added, “we do see a few cases each year.”

“While we will make every effort to pinpoint the origin of every infection, it is not unusual for this to prove ineffective,” the statement reads.

After discovering “several confirmed cases of listeria infection” earlier this month, NSW issued an urgent warning.

Despite acknowledging that there are now “a number of clusters” of listeria illnesses around the nation, the Victorian Department of Health declined to comment on the number of cases that have occurred within its boundaries.

The spokesman issued a statement saying, “Victoria is coordinating with the Commonwealth and other States and Territories to investigate and manage these clusters.

Following NSW Health’s worry over an alarming rise in the number of listeriosis cases found in the local community during the previous year, outbreaks have now been reported.

According to NSW Health branch director Kiera Glasgow, “we’ve already seen 25 cases of listeriosis among NSW residents in 2023, which is more than we typically expect to see in a whole year.”

An illness with listeriosis often begins with a fever and body symptoms.

In high-risk individuals, it can easily spread to the blood or central nervous system, resulting in a coma, convulsions, abrupt onset of fever, severe headaches, stiff neck, disorientation or delirium, or convulsions.

People who are prone to infection are advised to stay away from foods like pate, seafood, soft cheeses, pre-made salads, fresh vegetables, and processed meats that are ready to eat.