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Hospital patients die in sandwich listeria outbreak | Hospital patients die in sandwich listeria outbreak |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Three hospital patients have died in an outbreak of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches. | Three hospital patients have died in an outbreak of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches. |
Public Health England (PHE) said the victims were among six patients affected in England and the deaths occurred in Manchester and Liverpool. | Public Health England (PHE) said the victims were among six patients affected in England and the deaths occurred in Manchester and Liverpool. |
Two of the victims were at Manchester Royal Infirmary, with the other a patient at Aintree Hospital. | Two of the victims were at Manchester Royal Infirmary, with the other a patient at Aintree Hospital. |
Sandwiches and salads from The Good Food Chain linked to the outbreak have been withdrawn and production stopped. | Sandwiches and salads from The Good Food Chain linked to the outbreak have been withdrawn and production stopped. |
PHE said the products were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the infections were first identified. | PHE said the products were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the infections were first identified. |
A spokesperson for the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said it offered its "deepest condolences to the bereaved families" and "sincerely regret" that two of their seriously ill patients contracted listeria. | A spokesperson for the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said it offered its "deepest condolences to the bereaved families" and "sincerely regret" that two of their seriously ill patients contracted listeria. |
The trust, which would not say when the deaths happened, said the sandwiches were from the patient menu. | The trust, which would not say when the deaths happened, said the sandwiches were from the patient menu. |
The first patient showed symptoms on 25 April while the most recent case was reported on 15 May, a PHE spokeswoman said. | The first patient showed symptoms on 25 April while the most recent case was reported on 15 May, a PHE spokeswoman said. |
Aintree Hospital said: "Public health experts advised us of this supply chain issue on Friday 24 May and we immediately removed all products from this supplier." | Aintree Hospital said: "Public health experts advised us of this supply chain issue on Friday 24 May and we immediately removed all products from this supplier." |
Dr Nick Phin, deputy director at the National Infection Service at PHE said: "To date, there have been no associated cases identified outside healthcare organisations, and any risk to the public is low." | Dr Nick Phin, deputy director at the National Infection Service at PHE said: "To date, there have been no associated cases identified outside healthcare organisations, and any risk to the public is low." |
PHE said The Good Food Chain - which supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK - had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. | PHE said The Good Food Chain - which supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK - had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. |
This business and North Country Quality Foods, which it distributes through, have also voluntarily ceased production. | This business and North Country Quality Foods, which it distributes through, have also voluntarily ceased production. |
A spokesman for The Good Food Chain Ltd said the company's production facility in Stone, Staffordshire, was "cross contaminated by an ingredient from one of its approved meat suppliers". | A spokesman for The Good Food Chain Ltd said the company's production facility in Stone, Staffordshire, was "cross contaminated by an ingredient from one of its approved meat suppliers". |
A spokesman for North Country Cooked Meats said it was "currently co-operating fully with the environmental health and the Food Standards Agency in their investigations". | |
What is listeria? | What is listeria? |
Listeria is a bacterium which can cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis. | Listeria is a bacterium which can cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis. |
Normally, the symptoms are mild - a high temperature, chills, feeling sick - and go away on their own after a few days. | Normally, the symptoms are mild - a high temperature, chills, feeling sick - and go away on their own after a few days. |
But these cases occurred in people who were seriously ill. | But these cases occurred in people who were seriously ill. |
Along with pregnant women, newborn babies and the elderly, they are most at risk of a more serious infection that can spread to the brain or bloodstream. | Along with pregnant women, newborn babies and the elderly, they are most at risk of a more serious infection that can spread to the brain or bloodstream. |
In 2017 there were 33 deaths linked to listeriosis in England and Wales. | In 2017 there were 33 deaths linked to listeriosis in England and Wales. |
Listeria can be found in many types of food such as soft cheeses, chilled ready-to-eat foods like pre-packed salads, sandwiches and sliced meats, and unpasteurised milk products. | Listeria can be found in many types of food such as soft cheeses, chilled ready-to-eat foods like pre-packed salads, sandwiches and sliced meats, and unpasteurised milk products. |
To reduce the risk, the NHS advises people keep chilled food in the fridge, heat food until it is piping hot and not eat food after its use-by date. | To reduce the risk, the NHS advises people keep chilled food in the fridge, heat food until it is piping hot and not eat food after its use-by date. |