Md. Official: Listeria Patients Have Recovered

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Maryland health official says people sickened in recent months by a Listeria outbreak have recovered, and there have been no new confirmed cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported seven illnesses in Maryland linked to Hispanic-style cheese that were diagnosed between August and November of last year.

Dr. Clifford Mitchell of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Saturday the sickened patients live in the "national capital region." He says state officials have not yet linked the illnesses to a particular product but are continuing to investigate a possible connection.

In the meantime, he says health officials are distributing advisories in English and Spanish telling customers to avoid the cheese.

Listeria is a serious illness that includes fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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