Two dead and 28 sickened by cold cuts contaminated with deadly bacteria

A listeria outbreak linked to sliced ​​sausage has killed two people and sickened more than two dozen others.

The CDC announced Friday that 28 people in 12 states have been sickened by the listeria bacteria, which has been linked to sliced ​​deli meats.

The health agency is warning people not to eat meats purchased at deli counters unless they are reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature high enough to kill bacteria.

Keeping meat cold does not kill listeria.

CDC investigators are still gathering information about the outbreak to determine the exact sources of the listeria.

The CDC said: “Many people in this outbreak report eating meats that they had cut up at deli counters.”

For vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, or pregnant women, the CDC recommends taking extra precautions and avoiding deli meats unless they have been properly reheated.

They should also clean all surfaces and containers that may have been in contact with cut meats.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a bacterial infection that can lead to serious illness and death.

Warning signs of a listeria infection include nausea, cramps, diarrhea and constipation, which usually appear within hours to three days after consuming contaminated food.

More than 90 percent of patients are hospitalized, the FDA says.

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system and cause meningitis (inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain) and sepsis. Both can be fatal.

People with weakened immune systems and those over 60 are at particularly high risk of contracting the infection, officials say.

Pregnant women are also at increased risk of miscarriage if they contract listeria because the bacteria can be passed on to the fetus.

An estimated 1,600 people are infected with listeria in the United States each year, while about 260 people die.