Several southern African countries have recalled some processed meats from South Africa after the deaths of 180 people there from contaminated food since early last year.

The African News Agency reported Tuesday that Swaziland, Zambia and Mozambique are among nations that have ordered the removal of meat products believed to be contaminated.

South Africa's health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, says there have been a total of 950 cases of listeriosis since January 2017 and that 180 people have died.

The South African government is advising people to avoid processed meat products that are sold as "ready-to-eat" and

identified a food factory in the northeast city of Polokwane as the source of the outbreak.

The U.N. World Health Organization called the outbreak the largest ever recorded globally, after 948 cases were reported since January 2017. Listeria causes flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhoea and infection of the blood stream and brain.