Listeriosis outbreak claims third life
A Briton treated in France and now safe was first non-Spanish victim
THE ANDALUCIA regional government has ordered the immediate removal of all 'La Mechá' products from shelves after a third person died this week of Listeriosis caused by infected processed meat sold by the Sevilla-based company.
The Magrudis company, owner of La Mechá brand, is being accused of obstructing the investigation after it was revealed that other processed meat - not only 'carne mechada' pork products - had been infected with Listeria.
All products are now being removed and consumers are warned not to consume any product of La Mechá brand some of which were on sale in large hypermarkets mainly in Andalucia.
So far over 200 people have been diagnosed Listeriosis after eating La Mechá products, of whom three have died.
The latest victim reported this week was a 74-year-old woman. Her daughter will be taking legal action as they consider that although their mother was elderly, she did not have any serious life-threatening previous conditions that would be made worse by the infection.
"Our mother had the usual medical problems for her age, but was well taken care of and had medication. The cause of death is not other illnesses, its Listeria caused by the infected food products" said one of her two daughters in a TV interview yesterday (Thursday) after burying her mother the previous day.
"If I have high-blood pressure and die in a car accident, the cause of death is the accident, not high-blood pressure. This is exactly the same in this case" added the victim's daughter.
Briton was first foreign victim
Earlier in the week it was revealed that a British man had become the first confirmed case of a foreigner to be infected with Listeriosis after eating contaminated processed pork in Sevilla while visiting the city.
The man was treated at a hospital in France when the first symptoms appeared and was discharged and returned to the UK.