Listeria outbreak: Three dead after hospital sandwiches contaminated

Food business voluntarily ceases production as probe launched

Three people have died after eating hospital sandwiches contaminated with listeria, Public Health England has said.

A further three hospital patients have contracted the infection and a probe has been launched into how the outbreak occurred.

Officials said that the health risk to the general public was low, as listeria infection in healthy people can pass either unnoticed or with a “very mild illness.”

“Individuals should only seek medical attention if they develop symptoms,” a Public Health England spokesperson said.

The infection can have far more serious consequences when contracted by people with pre-existing conditions and by pregnant women.

Listeriosis symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, severe headaches, fevers, and stiffness.

It can be fatal among those with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and children.

All six of the identified listeriosis cases occurred in seriously ill hospital patients.

The three people who died were patients at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

All the identified cases are in England.

The strain has been linked to pre-packaged sandwiches and salads supplied by The Good Food Chain, which has voluntarily ceased production while a health probe into the outbreak continues.

The company used meat in its products from North Country Cooked Meats. Public Health England said the meat provided by the business had since tested positive for listeria.

North Country Cooked Meats and North Country Quality Foods, its distributor, have also voluntarily ceased production.

All affected products have been withdrawn from hospitals following the outbreak.

Listeriosis cases are rare and in most people will produce, at worst, mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually last a short time without the need for treatment.

“Occasionally, however, a more serious infection develops and spreads to the blood stream or brain,” a Public Health England spokesperson said.

Pregnant women, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and very young children are particularly vulnerable if infected.

“People in these groups should seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms,” the spokesperson added.

“Our thoughts are with the families of those patients who have died,” Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service, said.

“We, along with the FSA, colleagues in local authorities and the NHS have worked quickly to determine the likely cause of this outbreak and taken action to reduce the risk to the public’s health.

“To date, there have been no associated cases identified outside healthcare organisations, and any risk to the public is low.”

Good food hygiene is thought to be the best way to prevent listeriosis.

Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland have written to their respective NHS Trusts and Boards to ensure that they are following appropriate food storage and handling protocols, following the outbreak.