Listeriosis update September 16, 2008

    TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ -

    NEWS

    The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's listeriosis update as of
Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

    
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    No. Total cases             No. confirmed cases          No. cases under
    as of Sept. 16,                                           investigation
         2008
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          40                             36                          4
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    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    No. deaths among       No. deaths where listeriosis     No. deaths where
    confirmed cases             was an underlying                cause is
                              or contributing cause            undetermined
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
          19                             14                          5
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The number of deaths reported among confirmed cases has increased because
one of the cases under investigation has been reclassified as a confirmed
case.

    QUICK FACTS

    -   The average age of confirmed cases is 77.
    -   Almost all confirmed cases with complete information live in an
        institution or were hospitalized prior to the onset of the illness.
        Four confirmed cases were not hospitalized or did not reside in an
        institution prior to the onset of the illness, and a small number of
        confirmed cases have information pending.
    -   The incubation period for Listeriosis is from three to 70 days with
        an average incubation period of three weeks.
    -   Listeriosis is a reportable disease under Ontario Regulation 569 of
        the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
    

    LEARN MORE

    For an up-to-date list on this recall and other CFIA consumer food
recalls (www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/recaltoce.shtml)
online

    Find out more about the Listeriosis
(www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/disease/listeria_mn.html) outbreak
online

    Contact your local public health unit
(www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.html)

    For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only)

    
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For further information:

For further information: Media Contacts: Mark Nesbitt, Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197