Foodborne infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes drew attention in Spain
Oct 17, 2019 - Foods
Foodborne infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes drew attention in Spain
A listeriosis outbreak in Spain in August led to approximately 200 illnesses and even claimed two lives. This wave of food poisoning alarmed large parts of the Spanish population, the surveillance authorities, the politicians, and many tourists.
During the peak holiday season, the tourism industry feared a drop in visitor numbers. However, this did not happen because the cause of the infections was discovered, and the number of cases quickly decreased again.
In particular, in Andalusia, a region in the south of Spain, there were massive food-related infections in August caused by the dangerous bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Typical symptoms of this infectious disease include vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and mild fever. However, in immunocompromised individuals, this pathogen can infect other organs and even lead to death.
The mortality rate for infections from Listeria monocytogenes is significantly higher than for most other food infections like salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis. These bacteria are also very dangerous for pregnant women as they can lead to fetal damage and thus cause miscarriages or malformations in the newborn.
The trigger for this largest recorded listeria epidemic in Spain was a pre-cooked meat product of the brand "La Mechá," which was manufactured in Seville and primarily distributed in Andalusia.
All products manufactured since May are considered affected and were withdrawn from the market, or public recalls were issued to warn against consumption. These products were also warned about in the European Rapid Alert System RASFF, although they were not distributed in other European countries. This step was taken because so many foreign tourists are in Spain in August. After the public withdrawal and warning about the contaminated meat product, the number of cases quickly returned to "normal."
This case again shows how important it is to comply with all food hygiene measures. A key factor in preventing listeriosis and other food poisonings such as salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis is personnel hygiene in food operations. Therefore, the legally required hygiene training as well as the instructions according to §43 Abs. 4 Infection Protection Act must be carried out regularly. For this purpose, BAV Institut now offers these trainings online in 13 languages (www.bav-onlineschulung.de)!
In our laboratory, we regularly conduct testing for Listeria monocytogenes. We provide you with fast and reliable results.
Our customer consultants are happy to assist you with any questions.