Washington, DC - Federal health officials are investigating an outbreak of food poisoning from listeria that has killed four people and sickened more than 35 others in nine states.
The prime suspects are hot dogs and cold cuts, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Neither the CDC nor officials at the Agriculture Department, in charge of meat safety, would confirm which brands or manufacturer are under suspicion.
But the CDC said people at the greatest risk from food poisoning--pregnant women, the elderly and people with weak immune systems--should take precautions. "If they want to reduce their risk, they should avoid those foods or thoroughly reheat cold cuts before eating them," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said.
The states involved are Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, Connecticut, Vermont and Oregon.
Genetic fingerprinting of the listeria, a bacterium, helped officials link the cases. They suspect hot dogs and cold cuts because those are foods the patients have in common. The CDC expects test results soon that could determine the brands involved. Health officials then would determine if any recalls are required.
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