Wyoming Department of Health Warns People of Listeria – KGWN
Wyoming health officials believe a Sheridan woman died after eating listeria contaminated cantaloupe.
“We’re still doing some lab testing to see if the strain that that individual had matched the outbreak strain” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, Wyoming’s state epidemiologist. Regardless, the Wyoming Department of Health is working to warn people. “We’ve been announcing it just so people are aware and keep their awareness up and avoid the cantaloupe” he said.
The people most susceptible to listeria bacteria are the elderly, pregnant women and others with vulnerable immune systems. “When those people get listeria, it’s quite severe in them” said Murphy.
He said it’s a good idea for everyone to take a few extra precautions to keep from getting sick. He suggested thoroughly washing produce, heating packaged meat in the microwave, avoiding un-pasteurized dairy products and sterilizing potentially contaminated surfaces with bleach.
Symptoms of listeriosis include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fever. The illness is highly treatable with antibiotics if caught early.