Health officials have issueda warning for cantaloupes from a revered melon-producing area of Colorado amida bacteria outbreak blamed for four deaths in the state and New Mexico,troubling farmers who depend on sales of the fruit. The warning from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention came after 15 cases of a strain ofListeria were reported from four states, including 11 from Colorado, two fromTexas, and one each from Nebraska and Oklahoma. Suspected cases were beinginvestigated in other states.
Listeriosis is a seriousinfection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteriumListeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnantwomen, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. The CDC warningadvised people with cantaloupes at home to see if they came from the Rocky Fordregion, and if so, not to eat the melons if they're in a vulnerable group.Health authorities asked people throwing out Rocky Ford cantaloupes to put themin a sealed plastic bag before putting them in the trash.
Source: CDC, msnbc
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