El Paso County Public Health has received two additional reports of Listeria in older adults, although laboratory results regarding whether they are linked to the multi-state outbreak are still pending. El Paso County now has a total of four Listeria cases including one death.”We advise people at high risk for Listeria infection to avoid eating Rocky Ford cantaloupe and to follow the Listeria prevention measures,” says Dr. Bernadette Albenses, M.P.H., medical director of El Paso County Public Health.People at high risk for Listeria infection include people age 60 and older; pregnant women; and people with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain chronic diseases, immunosuppressive therapies or medications.People within these high risk groups should:
- Avoid eating cantaloupe purchased from the Rocky Ford region in Colorado.
- If you’ve purchased cantaloupe and are unsure where it came from, check the label or inquire at the store where you purchased the cantaloupe to determine if the fruit was marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.
- If you have cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford region, dispose of it by placing it in a closed plastic bag and then in a sealed trash can.
- If the cantaloupe was stored in your refrigerator, Public Health advises that you clean your refrigerator with mild dishwashing detergent and water.
- Do not bring Rocky Ford cantaloupes to Public Health for testing.
- In addition, other high risk foods such as hot dogs and deli meats should be reheated to an internal temperature of 165 F before eating. Avoid eating refrigerated p‚tÈ or meat spreads; refrigerated smoked seafood, and soft cheeses unless they are made with pasteurized milk.
