Listeria-laced cantaloupes tied to 13 deaths, CDC says

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(CBS/AP)The Listeria illness outbreak linked to cantaloupes may be one of the deadliest in recent history, according to new CDC estimates.

Pictures: Listeria: 7 key questions answered

Listeria illness, with symptoms including fever and muscle aches so severe that victims sometimes are incapacitated, has now sickened 72 people across 18 states, according to the CDC.

The CDC now says 13 deaths have been caused by the cantaloupe-carried infection. The death toll - which includes newly confirmed deaths in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and two deaths in Texas - surpassed the total from the 2009 deadly salmonella outbreak from peanuts that killed nine.

Officials say the death toll could soon reach 16, as they are investigating additional deaths in New Mexico, Kansas, and Wyoming.

The toll will probably grow in coming weeks because it can take 4 weeks for a Listeria infection to show symptoms, said the CDC's Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases.

"That long incubation period is a real problem," Tauxe said. "People who ate a contaminated food two weeks ago or even a week ago could still be falling sick weeks later."

The 18 states with reported illnesses are California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Colorado saw the most illnesses with 15, while 14 were reported in Texas, and 10 were reported in New Mexico.

"Rocky Ford" cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., were recalled earlier this month after state health officials found Listeria in cantaloupes taken from Colo. grocery stores and from a victim's home. Matching strains were also found on equipment at a nearby packing facility.

The cantaloupes in question were shipped from July 29 through Sept. 10 to 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.

Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, according to the FDA, but some may be labeled "Colorado Grown," "Distributed by Frontera Produce," "Jensenfarms.com" or "Sweet Rocky Fords."

The CDC said the median age of sickened individuals is 78 and that one in five who contract the disease might die. Listeria typically sickens elderly, pregnant, and others with weakened immune systems. The CDC said this particular Listeria strain, however, isn't commonly associated with the illness that sickens pregnant women.

Unlike many bacteria, Listeria can grow at room temperature and even refrigerator temperatures. Officials recommend anyone with these recalled cantaloupes discard of them immediately and wash the surface they touched.

Want to learn more about this deadly infection? Click here to learn key facts about Listeria.

8 Photos

Listeria: 7 key questions answered

[Jesse_engAmer]

It seems contradictory that the FDA recommends we eat fruit and fruit kills us. The FDA then regulates dietary supplements, which don't.

The FDA seems to only enact effective regulation when it benefits big pharma. Natural supplements will be heavily regulated, yet costly synthetic copies won't. Affordable, fast-acting inhalers are being regulated. Slow, expensive ones won't.

Why is the American public paying taxes to an inefficient organization that doesn't act on our behalf? Keep the dangerous foods off our plates or cut taxes and regulatory power.

[qmpash]

The FDA doesn't control the production and safety of agricultural products; that's the job of the USDA. And what has dietary supplements got to do with this problem?

[iDoggiebag]

Thank you for your article on horror of the Cantaloupe recall...We are trying to help with @NipperAlert please check out the most recent PSA which will start airing on Fox Sports Networks this month. http://youtu.be/eDwFx6Gwr6I
We just want to get Gov't cooperation not money....cause we think an "All Clear" is important once a product is safe to eat again....we don't need any more economic troubles. Thank you

[kawhostayucwy]

There are no cantaloupes in the United States. What are commonly referred to as cantaloupes in the United States are actually musk melons. Cantaloupes are only found in southern Europe, usually Italy or southern France. They have a sectioned exterior, unlike the uniform exterior like musk melons. This should be mentioned somewhere in the stories being circulated about the Listeria outbreak so consumers don't purchase melons that are actually labeled properly as musk melons thinking they're safe from the outbreak. Not mentioning it is a violation of responsible reporting.