THE OWNERS OF A COLORADO CANTALOUPE FARM PLEAD GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES IN A LISTERIA OUTBREAK TWO YEARS AGO. THE DISEASE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF FIVE NEW MEXICANS. DR. PAUL ETTESTAD WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS, IN ALL, NEW MEXICO SAW 15 LISTERIA CASES OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD IN 2011…FAR MORE THAN WE'D NORMALLY SEE IN A YEAR.
ETTESTAD SAYS THE CLUSTER OF CASES MADE THEM TAKE NOTICE, SO THEY COLLABORATED WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND OTHER STATES TO TRACK DOWN THE SOURCE OF THE ILLNESS.
ETTESTAD SAYS CERTAIN FOODS ARE RISKIER THAN OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO LISTERIA, INCLUDING DELI MEATS, SMOKED SEAFOOD AND SOFT CHEESES.
