PRESS RELEASE
Sept. 12, 2011
DENVER – Today, Dr. Chris Urbina, chief medical officer and executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said, “People at high risk for Listeria infection should not eat cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford growing region. The department expects additional test results later this week that may help identify the specific source of the cantaloupe linked to the multistate outbreak.”
People who are at high risk for listeriosis are people age 60 and older; those with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain chronic diseases, immunosuppressive therapies or medications; and pregnant women. Healthy adults under age 60 rarely develop this illness.
Eleven of Colorado’s 13 listeriosis cases now are linked to the multistate outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is coordinating the multistate investigation with affected states, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also is working with local public health partners on the investigation.
The full text of the press release can be read here (pdf).