Listeria outbreak from Boar's Head deli meat leads to 10 new hospitalizations, 1 new death, CDC says

The death toll from an outbreak of listeria linked to Boar's Head meat products now stands at three nationally, with 10 new hospitalizations reported Thursday bringing the total number of people falling ill to 43, the CDC said.

A person from Virginia was the latest person to die after eating products from a Boar's Head manufacturing facility in the state, according to updated data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two previous deaths have been reported since late May, one in Illinois and the other in New Jersey. 

So far, the New York State Department of Health has reported 14 cases, including two in Suffolk County, one in Nassau and, with two more announced Thursday by the CDC, six in New York City.

The CDC's last update, on July 31, reported 33 cases nationally.

So far, listeria infections linked to Boar's Head products have been reported in the Midwest, the South and in states along the East Coast. The number of people sickened is likely higher because others may have been sickened and later recovered without being tested or hospitalized, CDC officials said. One person got sick during their pregnancy but recovered without major complications.

A class-action lawsuit filed Aug. 1 by a Queens woman "individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated," accuses Boar's Head of failing to make consumers aware of the outbreak before it sparked a nationwide recall.

The lawsuit alleges that Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. "improperly, deceptively, and misleadingly labeled and marketed its Products to reasonable consumers, like Plaintiff, by omitting and not disclosing to consumers on its packaging that the Products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes."

Boar's Head, which is based in Sarasota, Florida, did not immediately respond to an email late Thursday seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The company has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat after infections were traced to its plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The company recalled 71 items produced at the facility between May 10 and Monday under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. On its website, Boar’s Head provides a list of all the items pulled, including 18 types of ham, 11 types of bologna, two types of bacon, five types of frankfurters, five types of sausages and, under the Old Country brand, 15 types of ham and one type of bacon.

Recalled products include Strassburger brand liverwurst, Virginia ham, Italian cappy ham, bologna and beef salami. Other items, include uncured kielbasa, uncured beef frankfurters, natural casing beef franks, Canadian style bacon and all natural chicken sausage — smoked andouille.

Listeria was initially discovered in Maryland in an unopened package of Boar’s Head liverwurst. The New York State Food Laboratory also identified listeria from a previously collected sample of unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst from retail stores.

Listeria is especially harmful to pregnant women, seniors 65 or older, or to those who have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments.

On its website, the CDC urges consumers to throw out any recalled deli meat and to clean refrigerators or any surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. Symptoms may also include a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

Boar's Head included a full list of products recalled on the company's website.

"We deeply regret that our liverwurst products were found to be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes," the company said in a statement. "No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for the families that have suffered losses and others who endured illness."

With Lorena Mongelli

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.