(WWJ) Federal health officials are investigating a listeria outbreak from an unknown source that's impacting people in several states, including Michigan.
So far there have been 12 cases confirmed across ten states, with two of those cases in Michigan.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says ten people sickened have been hospitalized, and most of the people who have gotten sick are women.
Health officials say symptoms of severe illness usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with listeria, but can start as early as the same day or as late as two months after.
While a specific food hasn't been identified as the source, the CDC is concerned that several recent illnesses have been reported.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The CDC says around 1,600 people get listeriosis every year, resulting in about 260 deaths
As the investigation into this outbreak continues, public health officials are continuing to interview people to find out what foods they ate before getting sick.
Get the latest information from the CDC on this outbreak at this link.
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