Listeria Poses Threat to Unborn Children: Three Women Miscarry from Recent Listeria Outbreak in Spain
In a recent outbreak of listeria in southern Spain, 197 cases have been confirmed. The origin of this outbreak is being investigated as possibly from a pork package called ‘Mecha’ distributed from a Seville-based Magrudis. Spain’s Health Minister has called for the removal of all meat under investigation. The majority of the cases have occurred in Seville. In healthy people, listeriosis often only causes fever, diarrhea, and vomiting lasting up to a week. However, in some cases, such as those with poor immune systems, listeria infection can spread within the body causing serious illnesses such as septicemia and meningitis. Of the 197 cases, there have been 67 hospitalizations, and 23 of these are pregnant women.
People who are immuno-compromised are most at risk to contract listeria. This includes the elderly as well as pregnant and young. When a woman is pregnant, the hormonal changes in her body lower the functionality of her immune system which makes her particularly susceptible to listeria. Previous studies done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that pregnant women are 10 times more likely to become infected with listeriosis, the bacterial infection of listeria, than other people. Furthermore, pregnant mothers can easily pass the infection through the placenta to their babies which has proven often fatal to infants. New research shows that listeria infection is a common cause of miscarriages, stillbirths, and preterm labor.
Recent Listeria Outbreak in Spain Leads to Heartbreak:
Three devastated women have recently
experienced miscarriages due to the ongoing listeria outbreak occurring in Spain. There are other claims of infant miscarriage and death which are being looked into as well. One of the women was 32 weeks pregnant and the other two were only 8 weeks along.
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, it is extremely important to be conscious of the foods you eat. Obstetricians as well as food safety officials warn pregnant women against foods which are commonly contaminated due to their processing such as cheeses made by raw unpasteurized milk, raw sprouts, and lunch meats. For a complete list of the food to avoid when expecting, visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Note: According to Listeria Outbreak Lawyer Ron Simon, victims who eat a food later recalled due to possible listeria contamination should have the proper testing done, which can include blood and cerebrtal spinal fluid (CSF) culture. For those who are victims of still births and miscarriages, often the only way of getting a positive diagnosis is to have a placental culture performed.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315965.php
https://womhealth.org.au/pregnancy-and-parenting/listeria-and-pregnancy
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/three-women-suffer-miscarriages-spains-19117027
https://www.cdc.gov/features/prenatalinfections/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/risk-groups/pregnant-women.html
