Australia: Third fatality linked to Jindi Cheese listeria outbreak
In a follow-up to a story last month, the Listeria outbreak linked to Jindi Cheese in Australia has claimed another victim, bringing the total deaths attributed to this outbreak to three.
Image/CIA
A 68-year-old NSW man who died from the infection late last month has been linked the the current outbreak, according to a Brisbane Times report today.
Previously, a Tasmanian man, 44, and a Victorian man, 88, have also died of the illness linked to the tainted cheese. In addition, a New South Wales woman suffered a miscarriage due to the listeria infection.
To date, there has been 26 illnesses linked to the Jindi cheese factory in Gippsland.
Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important public health problem. . The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available
Check out The Global Dispatch Facebook page here
Follow The Global Dispatch on Twitter here
