As of last week the CDC listed a total of 22 persons infected with the outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 7 states. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: Colorado (12), Indiana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (4), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2), and West Virginia (1). Two deaths have been reported, one in Colorado and one in New Mexico. In reviewing State Health Department websites and media this weekend, I have come up with the following number is sick or dead likely related to Jensen and Frontera Listeria-tainted cantaloupes. The states below were noted by the FDA as receiving cantaloupes unless noted.
Arizona – No reported illnesses.
Colorado (12 sick with1 death) – A total of 12 cases in Colorado are linked to the outbreak, including one death.
Indiana (1 sick) – One ill according to the CDC. State not listed as receiving Jensen Cantaloupes.
Illinois (1 sick) – Listeriosis illnesses in several other states –including Cook County in Illinois—are currently being investigated by state and local health departments to determine if these illnesses are part of this outbreak.
Kansas (6 possibly sick) – Kansas has had six cases of listeriosis reported since August 26. None of these cases has been definitively linked to the multistate outbreak, but investigations are underway and additional laboratory testing is pending.
Minnesota – No reported illnesses.
Missouri (2 sick with 1 death) – According to press reports, The Springfield-Greene County Health Department continues to reach out for a possible connection to contaminated cantaloupes in Colorado. One of the listeria cases in Springfield was fatal. The other person was still in the hospital this weekend.
Montana (2 sick) – Department of the Public Health and Human Services officials have identified two cases of listeriosis in Montana residents who reside in two different Montana counties, Gallatin and Yellowstone.
Nebraska (3 sick) – In the past two weeks, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Office of Epidemiology has received three reports of listeriosis (two in Douglas County and one in Custer County). Of the two with known hospitalization history, both were hospitalized. PFGE (DNA fingerprinting) has completed on one isolate. It matches isolates from two other states. The investigation in this cluster so far is finding a strong association with cantaloupe.
New Jersey – No reported illnesses.
New Mexico (10 sick with 4 deaths) – To date, the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) has identified ten patients hospitalized with Listeria infection in the last 3 weeks, including 4 fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed by DNA fingerprinting tests that the first five New Mexico cases are part of the multi-state Listeriosis outbreak linked to cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado. Test results on the other cases are pending.
New York – No reported illnesses.
North Carolina – No reported illnesses.
Oklahoma (10 sick with 1 death) – One case has been identified as associated with this outbreak. Six other recently reported cases of listeriosis among Oklahomans are under investigation to determine if they are related to the outbreak. Per news reports – The Oklahoma Department of Health confirms the death of one person from an outbreak of Listeria traced to cantaloupe. The Health Department says there have been six cases in the state related to cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms. All six people were hospitalized and one person died. An additional four cases are being investigated.
Pennsylvania – No reported illnesses.
South Dakota – No reported illnesses.
Tennessee – No reported illnesses.
Texas (2 sick) – Two people from Texas have become ill after consuming Rocky Ford cantaloupe.
Utah – No reported illnesses.
West Virginia (1 sick) – One ill. State not listed as receiving Jensen Cantaloupes
Wyoming (1 sick) – According to press reports, Wyoming state health officials say a Laramie County man has fallen ill with a case of listeriosis believed to be related to contaminated cantaloupes from Colorado.