Nearly 200 deaths from listeriosis, but number of cases is steadily falling
Eight cases were reported in the week to April 8, while at the height of the outbreak‚ 30 or more cases were reported weekly
The death toll from SA’s listeriosis outbreak is just one short of 200. Of the 199 deaths recorded so far‚ 105 were in Gauteng‚ according to an update from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). A total of 1‚019 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases have been reported to the NICD since January 1 2017. Since the recall of implicated products on March 4‚ a total of 50 cases have been reported. Twenty-four (48%) were among neonates (babies under the age of 28 days) and three (6%) were among children aged between one month and 14 years. The NICD said cases could still be reported because the incubation period of listeriosis can be up to 70 days, and the implicated products had a long shelf life, so it was possible that despite the recall‚ some products had not been removed from retail or consumers’ homes. Also, cross-contamination at retailers and in the home could occur. On a positive note‚ the NICD said the number of cases of laboratory-confirmed listeriosis reporte...
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