Worst Ever Listeria Outbreak Plaguing South Africa
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed nearly 750 cases of Listeria in South Africa, including 67 deaths. This makes the Listeria outbreak the worst ever on record.
In South Africa, Listeria is a reportable disease, which means that those diagnosed must be reported to federal health officials. As is the case with most foodborne illness outbreaks, it is highly likely that not all cases have been reported to the proper authorities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), patients who have contracted listeriosis belong to various socioeconomic backgrounds, which makes pinpointing the source even more difficult.