Listeria outbreak: Two more people have died after eating pre-packed sandwiches in hospital The sandwiches and salads linked to the outbreak have been removed from hospitals

Two more people have died after eating pre-packaged sandwiches and salads linked to a hospital listeria outbreak, according to Public Health England (PHE).



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The number of people to have died because of the bacterial infection has now reached five. There are nine confirmed cases of people suffering from the potentially deadly infection in total.

The first cases of the outbreak were reported at NHS Trusts in Liverpool and Manchester last week, where six patients had become seriously ill. Three of the patients later died.

The location of the two most recent deaths has not been confirmed.

Affected food products removed

PHE said the affected food products, believed to be supplied by the Good Food Chain, were withdrawn from hospitals when the link to the listeria infection was first identified. They were removed on 25 May.

The Good Food Chain, which supplies 43 NHS trusts across the UK, voluntarily ceased production when the PHE investigation was launched, which has been conducted with the Food Standards Agency.

The supplier said the underlying cause of the outbreak remained unclear. It sent its condolences to the families of those who died. The investigation is ongoing.

‘Multi-agency investigation’

“Since the multi-agency investigation began into listeria cases linked to sandwiches and salads, Public Health England (PHE) has been analysing previously known cases of listeria from the past two months to see if they are linked to this outbreak,” a spokesperson for PHE said in a statement.

What is listeria? Listeria infection is rare and usually causes a mild illness in healthy people. It can have more serious consequences among those with pre-existing medical conditions, pregnant women and those with a weak immune system.

“Whilst any risk to the public remains low, PHE’s Whole Genome Sequencing analysis has identified an additional three cases of listeria linked to this outbreak.

“This brings the total number of confirmed cases to nine. All of the cases of listeria infection were in hospital patients in England.

“Sadly, one of the seriously ill six patients PHE confirmed last week has since died,” PHE added.

“One of the patients confirmed today as linked to the outbreak had already died. This brings the number of deaths linked to this outbreak to five.”

The first three victims who died were receiving treatment at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool’s Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

It is not yet known where the last two people are being treated.

Ceasing production

North Country Cooked Meats, which supplied meat to the Good Food Chain, and distributor North Country Quality Foods also ceased production during the investigation.



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Dr Nick Phin, deputy director at the national infection service at PHE, said: “To date, there have been no patients linked to this incident outside healthcare organisations, but we continue to investigate.

“Swift action was taken to protect patients and any risk to the public is low. PHE is continuing to analyse all recent and ongoing samples of listeria from hospital patients to understand whether their illness is linked to this outbreak.”

‘Pursue inquiries with urgency’

The Good Food Chain said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families of those who have died and anyone else who has been affected by this outbreak.

“The underlying cause of it remains unclear.



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“We understand that the investigations being carried out are complicated and will involve a number of stakeholders, but we hope the authorities will pursue their inquiries with all urgency so the wider industry can learn any lessons as soon as possible, and so those affected do not have to wait too long for answers.

“For our part, we are co-operating fully and transparently with the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and other authorities, and will continue to do so.”

North Country Cooked Meats said previously: “At this stage the company is currently co-operating fully with the environmental health and the FSA in their investigations, and a further statement will be issued in due course.”

Additional reporting by PA