Namibia: First case of listeriosis recorded March 12

Event

Health officials reported the first case of listeriosis in Namibia on Monday, March 12, since the beginning of an outbreak of the disease in adjacent South Africa. The infected individual had reportedly eaten Vienna sausages in Tsumeb infected with listeria bacteria. Namibian Minister of Health Bernard Haufiku has called on individuals in the country to avoid eating sausages produced in South Africa, the source of the outbreak. Further spread of the disease is possible in Namibia in the coming weeks.

Context

The listeriosis outbreak was traced on March 4 to a food facility in Polokwane (Limpopo province, South Africa), leading South African health officials to call on all people present in the country to avoid consuming cold meats and sausages. According to South African authorities, the outbreak has left at least 183 people dead in the country since January 2017.

Listeriosis is caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, typically contracted via the consumption of contaminated food or water, and can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms of listeriosis include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), fever, abdominal pain, headache, and body aches. If caught early enough, listeria infections can be treated with antibiotics. Newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of infection.

Advice

Individuals present in Namibia are advised to seek medical attention if presenting the above symptoms. To minimize the risk of contracting the illness, individuals are advised to thoroughly cook all meat and fish, thoroughly clean all fruits and vegetables before consumption, immediately wash hands and utensils (e.g. knives, cutting boards, etc.) that have come into contact with raw or frozen foods, and avoid drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk and milk products (e.g. yogurt, cheese).