September 3, 2008

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s listeriosis update, as of Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

"Listeriosis continues to pose a very low risk to the general population. Healthy people rarely become ill when exposed to the bacteria. Those most at risk include pregnant women, the very old, infants and people with weakened immune systems," said Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health. "Almost all of the confirmed cases we have in this outbreak live in an institution or were hospitalized prior to the illness. However, the general public should throw out all recalled products. When in doubt, throw it out."

• The average age of confirmed cases is 77.
• Almost all confirmed cases with complete information live in an institution or were hospitalized prior to the onset of the illness.  One confirmed case was not hospitalized or in an institution prior to the onset of the illness, and a small number of confirmed cases have information pending.
• The incubation period for Listeriosis is from three to 70 days with an average incubation period of three weeks.
• Listeriosis is a reportable disease under Ontario Regulation 569 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

For an up-to-date list on this recall and other CFIA consumer food recalls online 

Find out more about the Listeriosis outbreak online

Contact your local public health unit.

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