A brand of Gorgonzola cheese is not to be consumed, the Department for Environ-

mental Health said, in terms of the Food Safety Act and EC Regulation 178 of 2002. The warning was issued due to the possible presence of a pathogenic micro-organism, Listeria.

For further information, the public may contact the Department for Environ-

mental Health on tel: 2132-4093 or 2133-7333 from 8am to 3pm.

What is listeriosis?

Listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important public health problem.

What are the symptoms?

A person with listeriosis has fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrintestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhoea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarraige or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.

How great is the risk

for listeriosis?

In the United States, an estimated 2,500 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 500 die. At increased risk are:

• Pregnant women – They are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy.

• Newborns – Newborns rather than the pregnant women themselves suffer the serious effects of infection in pregnancy.

• Persons with weakened immune systems, cancer, diabetes or kidney disease.

• Persons with AIDS – They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.

• The elderly.

What should you do if you've eaten a food recalled because of Listeria contamination?

The risk of an individual person developing Listeria infection after consumption of a contaminated product is very small. If you have eaten a contaminated product and do not have any symptoms, it is not recommended to have any tests or treatment, even if you are in a high-risk group.

However, if you are in a high-risk group, have eaten the contaminated product, and within two months become ill with fever or signs of serious illness, you should contact your physician and inform him or her about this exposure.

Can listeriosis be treated?

When infection occurs during pregnancy, antibiotics given promptly to the pregnant woman can often prevent infection of the foetus or newborn.

Babies with listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until physicians are certain of the diagnosis. Even with prompt treatment, some infections result in death. This is particularly likely in the elderly and in persons with other serious medical problems.

Source: medic8.com