Spanish Listeria Outbreak called “over”

For the hundreds sickened the end is little comfort.

According to Spanish health official illness have reached 204 with at least three deaths.  In Andalusia, in southern Spain has reported the bulk of the cases with 197, with most of the cases in this community reported from Seville (162).

Of the patients confirmed in Andalusia, 58 percent presented symptoms compatible with acute gastroenteritis, 47% presented with fever, 10% (19) developed meningeal forms and four patients had sepsis.

Three fatalities have been reported to date–two people over 70 and a person over 90 years old.

4 laboratory confirmed cases have been registered (1 in Aragón, 1 in Castilla y León, 1 in Extremadura and 1 pregnant woman of 8 weeks in Madrid who lost the baby) and 3 cases confirmed by epidemiological link (1 in Extremadura and 2 in Aragon).

In addition, 66 probable cases and 58 suspects have been reported in Aragón, Asturias, Canary Islands, Castile and León, Castilla La Mancha, Catalonia, Community Valenciana, Extremadura, Madrid and Melilla.

A UK citizen identified in France is suspected to be associated with the same outbreak.

According to one press report, one New Zealand woman who was on a trip to Europe lost the child she was carrying at 26 weeks. 

The implicated food source is roasted pork meat, commercialized under the brand ‘La Mechá’, produced by a company in Seville, Spain. The company has recalled all products manufactured since May 2019 and discontinued production.

The manager of the company Magrudis – the source of the outbreak – and one of his sons are still in custody as their role in the case is investigated. 

Listeria bacteria was found in machinery used at its plant in Sevilla. Inspectors also found licensing irregularities. 

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.