Foodborne Listeriosis Causes Three Deaths in Washington State, WGS Suggests Common Source
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department of Washington has announced that it is working with the Washington State Department of Health and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services to investigate five cases of foodborne illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes in Western Washington, three of which have resulted in death. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has indicated that the five cases of listeriosis were likely caused by the same source of infection.
At present, a common food source has not been identified, but the investigation is ongoing. Washington Department of Health is working with Pierce and Thurston County local health jurisdictions to gather information from interviews with patients and their families to help identify any common exposures.