What Is Listeria Bacteria
Listeriosois an infection that is caused by the harmful bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. It is a serious harmful infection and primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems, like Lupus and Aids. However, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.
Listeriosis affects around 2,500 people each year and pregnant women are 20 times more likely to become infected with the condition. If you have AIDS, you are approximately 300 times more likely to become infected with listeriosis. However, this harmful bacteria can be prevented.
What Are The Symptoms Of Listeria
If you have food poisoning or listeriosis, your symptoms that are similar to that of a cold or flu. You might experience a fever, nausea, muscle aches, diarrhea, a stiff neck, confusion, or a headache. Some severer cases have had convulsions and loss of balance.
If you get an listeria infection while you are pregnant, there is an increased chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and your baby may become infected as well.
Newborns are usually the ones that will suffer the most from the condition. Not something any parent wants to have to experience.
Where Is Listeria Found
The harmful bacteria that causes listeriosis can be found in soil, water, vegetables, uncooked meats, dairy products, soft cheeses and juices.
When foods and drinks are pasteurized and cooked, the harmful bacteria is killed. However, hot dogs and lunch meats can still carry the bacteria even after they have been cooked.
* If you are pregnant, do not eat these food to safeguard your child or children.
What Should I Do To Prevent Listeria Bacteria
It is important to follow general sanitary rules and keep a clean food preparation area while cooking and preparing foods, to avoid a listeria infection, and lower the chance of getting food poisoning.
Wash your hands properly before, during and after meal preparation.
Clean all foods before eating or cooking them.
Make sure all of your cooking utensils are clean.
Do not eat unpasteurized foods or juices.
Do not eat hot dogs or lunch meats unless they are heated until they are STEAMING HOT.
Do not eat refrigerated, smoked seafood.
Do not eat refrigerated meat spreads. Canned spreads are generally okay.
Do not drink unpasteurized milk.
Cook foods thoroughly before consuming.
Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating or cooking.
Eat ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.
Use separate cutting boards for seafood’s, meats, poultry and vegetables.
Wash all surfaces and hands after handling hot dogs, lunch meats and deli meats seafood’s, poultry, and raw meats.
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