Deadly listeria outbreak in 6 states linked to deli meat and cheese

Key Facts

People at high risk of severe illness from listeria infection — such as pregnant people, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems — should not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter without first reheating it “steaming hot,” the agency suggests.
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC added.
However, that is not the only location of the illness, the CDC said, as people sickened in other states reported buying meats or cheeses from other delis.
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning in the United States, according to the CDC, and is especially dangerous for anyone older than age 65, with a weakened immune system, or pregnant.