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What Is Listeria
A Bacterial genus that contains 7 species. It's a kind of food poisoning caused by a bacteria. The first documented case of Listeria was in 1924. Named after the English pioneer of sterile surgery Joseph Lister. -
Cause
Contaminated and undercooked food -
Symptoms
diarrhea, nausea, fever, stiff neck, confusion and weakness. -
Reservoir
Commoly found in food. And also a bacteria found in soil and water. -
Mode of Transmission
Ingestion is the primary mode of transmission. Unlike most other foodborne pathogens, Listeria tends to multiply in contaminated refrigerated foods. -
Incubation Period
3-70 days with the median incubation period being 3 weeks long. -
Period of Communicability
It's not contagious from person to person -
Occurence
Occurs most often in undercooked chicken but also occurs in vegetables that aren't properly washed and dairy that's not properly pasteurized. -
Prevent and Control Measures
Clean, dry environment. Wash all foods thoroughly and cook all foods thoroughly. -
Other Facts
*At first Listeria can present as a cold or flu virus
*Eat perishable foods as quickly as possible within expiration date-the longer they sit the more chance they have of generating Listeria.
*Pregnant women, young children and sick people are particularly vulnerable to Listeria Poisoning.
