Warning after 36 die from listeriosis

THE Department of Health issued a warning yesterday following the outbreak of the food-borne disease listeriosis.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said 557 cases had been detected this year alone and at least 36 people had died over the last 11 months.

The country usually records 60-80 cases a year.

“Most cases (62%) have been reported from Gauteng province‚” Motsoaledi said. The province accounted for 345 of the cases reported.

The Western Cape had the second-most reported cases (71) followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 37.

“As you can see, the three provinces alone are responsible for 82% of the total cases. The remaining 18% is distributed in the other six provinces‚” Motsoaledi said.

He said the disease was a serious but treatable and preventable disease caused by the bacterium‚ listeria monocytogenes.

People with the disease usually suffer from a flu-like illness‚ diarrhoea accompanied by a fever‚ general body pains‚ vomiting and weakness.

This leads to infection of the bloodstream‚ or septicaemia, and meningoencephalitis‚ an infection of the brain.

“The bacteria is widely distributed in nature and can be found in soil‚ water and vegetation.

“Animal products and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables can be contaminated‚” Motsoaledi said.