A public health body has issued a warning to people that have eaten ready-to-eat smoked fish who may be at risk of listeria.
The Food Standards Agency said there is an 'ongoing listeria outbreak' which has been traced to ready-to-eat smoked fish. Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacteria that is generally found in decaying vegetation and animals but can also be found in moist environments, soil, and water.
People infected by the bacteria can experience a range of illnesses and symptoms. Mild symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. However, more severe forms of infections can result in confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions while vulnerable groups may even be at risk of death due to the infection.
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Dr Caroline Handford, Acting Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency said: "While the risks to the general public of becoming seriously ill due to Listeria are very low, we need people who are vulnerable – specifically those over 65, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems – to be aware of the ongoing risks of consuming ready to eat smoked fish.
"If anyone from these groups is eating ready-to-eat smoked fish, we are reminding them of the advice to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked before they eat it including when served as part of a dish.
"People can also further reduce the risk by keeping chilled ready-to-eat smoked fish cold (5⁰C or below), always using products by their use-by date, following the storage instructions on the label, and cooking it until it is piping hot right through."
The risk of listeria infection is especially concerning for those aged over 65 as well as those with cancer, organ transplants, patients taking steroids, patients undergoing immunosuppressive or cytotoxic treatment, people who are pregnant, those with uncontrolled HIV infection, diabetes, chronic liver or kidney disease and those with alcohol dependency.
Professor Saheer Gharbia, Interim Deputy Director of Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety at UKHSA said: "Most people won’t have any symptoms of the infection or will only experience mild symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhoea, which usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment.
"However, some people are at higher risk of much more serious illness, including those over 65, people who are pregnant or new-born babies, and those with weakened immune systems including people undergoing immunosuppressive treatment, and people with chronic liver or kidney disease.
"In light of this ongoing outbreak, we are advising pregnant and vulnerable people to only eat ready-to-eat smoked fish that has been thoroughly cooked to reduce the risk of listeriosis. If you have any concerns about your health please speak to your midwife, GP or hospital specialist team."
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