Listeriosis can be deadly

Listeriosis can be deadly - cases of illness have risen

In recent years there has been a significant increase in listeriosis cases. The disease can be acquired by eating contaminated food. For certain groups of people, listeriosis can be a mortal danger. The dangerous thing about the Listeria bacteria is also that they are hard to spot. The bacteria do not spoil the food and can not be detected by smell or taste. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) reports on how to protect yourself most effectively from Listeria.

Due to the ever increasing number of illnesses in the EU and in Germany, the BfR warns against the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), reported cases of illness have almost doubled from 2009 to 2017. "Especially older people as well as pregnant women and people with reduced immune defenses are in danger of becoming infected with Listeria", explains Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR, in a press release. But if you follow certain rules when eating foods, listeria have no chance.

The rodent bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can cause the dangerous infectious disease listeriosis, which is life-threatening for certain groups of people. (Image: Kateryna_Kon / fotolia.com)

Rare but dangerous

The RKI records all reported cases of listeriosis in recent years. The data show that Listeria has nearly doubled the number of infectious diseases since 2009. Thus, in 2009, only 396 cases were reported, in 2017 there were already 771. Only recently, there was a Europe-wide Listeria scandal with several fatalities. The trigger was contaminated frozen vegetables that were sold in Germany and other European countries.

How to get infected with listeriosis?

According to the BfR, the bacteria can be consumed by eating contaminated food. Since listeria have low growth claims, they can occur in many different foods. For example, the bacterium can be found in raw foods of animal origin, finished products and also in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and salads.

Contaminated food is not recognizable

Listeria do not spoil the food, nor do they lead to deviations in taste or smell. They can proliferate both at refrigerator temperatures and in vacuum packaging. Therefore, it can come despite proper storage to high pathogenic germ counts. "Older people, in particular, store foods much more often over a long period of time, for example because they consume only small amounts or do not throw away food," the BfR experts write.

risk groups

"There is an increased risk of developing listeriosis, especially elderly people, persons with reduced immune defenses, as well as pregnant women and newborns," warn the BfR. In severe disease can lead to blood poisoning and brain and / or meningitis. When pregnant women become infected, they often show no or only flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches. However, the bacteria can lead to prematurely or miscarriages as well as to serious damage to the unborn child.

How can you protect yourself from Listeria??

The best protection provides sufficient heating. According to BfR, it must be ensured that a core temperature of 70 degrees Celsius is reached. Older people, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems should also pay attention to a few additional rules. For example, perishable foods that are no longer heated before consumption should only be freshly prepared and consumed. These include, for example, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, sandwiches, fresh fruit, vegetables, lettuce and fresh herbs. Sausage and cheese slices should also be purchased in small quantities and eaten quickly. Further information has been summarized by the BfR in the leaflet "Protection against Food Infections with Listeria". (Vb)