The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) January 20 sent a document to Vietnamese Ministry of Health warning of withdrawing of American-imported apples and prepackaged caramel apples due to Listeria monocytogenes.
Worse, some of removed products were exported to Vietnam. Accordingly the Vietnam Food Administration is quick to check all American apples and sends document to importers to soon withdraw the products. The Department also keeps track on poisoned cases to have timely treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of January 10, 2015, a total of 32 people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes which had been reported from 11 states in the United States. Thirty-one ill people have been hospitalized, and seven deaths have been reported.
Listeriosis contributed to at least three of these deaths. Ten illnesses were pregnancy-related (occurred in a pregnant woman or her newborn infant), with one illness resulting in a fetal loss. 25 out of 28 people interviewed said that they had eaten processing and prepackaged caramel apples.
According to medical document, Listera monocytogenes is a dangerous virus to cause food poisoning as they can grow slowly at refrigeration temperatures, refrigerated foods need to handled and stored properly.
Though the rate of infection is not high, the mortality is very high up to 30 percent, especially pregnant women, new born babies, senior people and those suffering immune deficiency
