The CDC as of September 21 listed eight deaths linked to Jensen Farms and Frontera Listeria-tainted Cantaloupe from 14 states: 2 in Colorado, 1 in Maryland, 4 in New Mexico, and 1 in Oklahoma. A review of state health department sites and media reports yield a much higher number:
Colorado:- 15 confirmed outbreak cases, including 2 deaths.
Kansas:- 5 confirmed cases; 3 cases under investigation. Two deaths.
Nebraska:- 6 confirmed outbreak cases, all 70+ years old; two victims are 90+ years old. One death.
New Mexico:- 10 confirmed outbreak cases, including 4 deaths. All 10 individuals were hospitalized. Victims’ ages range from 43 to 96 years, and include 6 women and 4 men. Patients are from seven different New Mexico counties. Three additional cases – including 1 death – are under investigation.
Oklahoma:- 8 confirmed outbreak cases, including one death. Two additional cases are under investigation. Outbreak-related illnesses have been reported from Oklahoma, Canadian, Cleveland, Love and McCurtain counties. Victims range from 61 to 96 years old; two-thirds are male.
Texas:- 9 confirmed outbreak cases.
According to the FDA, cantaloupes were shipped to at least 25 states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. And, not all of those states have reported illnesses – yet.