This month a television drama included a fictional outbreak of Listeriosis in a school. Unfortunately, the script writer hadn't done his homework on foodborne illnesses, as many viewers probably recognized. Americans have learned a lot about this very dangerous illness in the past few months as the death toll continues to rise from the contaminated cantaloupes grown in Colorado and distributed widely.
As a public service to CBS and it's drama the Good Wife, we would like to help the writer and his colleagues in Hollywood learn some important and basic facts about food poisoning from Listeria monocytogenes. These facts are published almost daily with each new article tracking the current outbreak.
Listeriosis does not occur as an instant outbreak. After ingesting the Listeria bacteria, it may take anywhere from three days for the first signs of illness to appear and up to two months for symptoms to develop. Flu-like symptoms include fever and muscle aches, stiff neck, and headaches.
While children, like all people, are at risk, the most vulnerable to Listeriosis are newborns, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems from other diseases or illnesses.
Click here for more information on Listeriosis and Listeria infections.
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