Listeria outbreak: Death toll rises after infected food served at NHS hospital

Listeria is a type of bacterium which infects humans and other warm-blooded animals through contaminated food. It is a rare infection yet more and more cases are coming forward with a sixth person to die after eating contaminated food served at a hospital. The sixth patient who contracted listeriosis has died after falling ill from eating food at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is thought to have been caused by a chicken sandwich supplied to the hospital by the Good Food Chain.

We are greatly saddened by this news and wish to extend our sincere condolences to the patients family and friends

West Sussex Hospitals chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control, Dr Maggie Davies

A total of six people are confirmed have died, with a further three getting ill, after eating contaminated sandwiches at hospitals across the UK.

Public Health England have said that they have been testing all cases of listeriosis for links to the outbreak, but so far none have been from the same incident.

West Sussex Hospital’s chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control, Doctor Maggie Davies said: “We are greatly saddened by this news and wish to extend our sincere condolences to the patients family and friends.

“We want to reassure our patients, visitors and staff that the risk remains very low.”

What is listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes could happen to anybody as the disease is contracted through the food a person eats and freezing does not get rid of it.

Listeria is caused by bacteria that grows at cold temperatures, like those inside a refrigerator.

When the food is contaminated with listeria, a strong odour is normally detected and can be seen and tasted.

Deli meats are the biggest food culprits for listeria as they aren’t processed properly.

Doctor Nick Phin, of Public Health England 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.”

The symptoms of listeria include muscle aches, fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea and diarrhoea.

The NHS added: “In most people, listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days.

“If you have high temperatures of 38C or above, aches and pains, chills and vomiting you should contact your GP immediately.

“Make sure you wash your hands regularly with soap and water, wash fruit and vegetables before eating them, store ready-to-eat foods as recommended by manufacturer and make sure all hot food is steaming hot all the way through.”

Pregnant woman are 10 times more likely than other people to get Listeria infection.

Pregnant woman with a listeria infection can pass the infection to their unborn babies and can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and preterm labours.

Those with weakened immune systems are also more susceptible to the disease.

The Good Food Chain have now ceased trading with immediate effect and have gone into liquidation following the investigation into the recent listeria outbreak.

Stated on their website it reads: “The Food Standards Agency confirmed on 26 June 2019 that the company was not the source of the outbreak and that – having been eliminated from the multi-agency inquiry – it can now resume production.”

Owner and founder of the The Good Food Chain, Martyn Corfield said: “I was absolutely devastated to hear that people had died after contracting listeriosis and have been thinking constantly about all those affected and their families.

“We have been co-operating very closely with the investigating authorities.”

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