A woman ate leftovers and had a high fever of 42℃, and she almost died. The culprit turned out to be this "refrigerator killer"

Recently, the news of #woman in Huangpu, Guangzhou, who had a high fever of 42℃ after eating leftovers and nearly died# became a hot search, attracting everyone's attention. The woman felt unwell after eating the leftover fried chicken rice in the refrigerator, and was diagnosed with encephalitis by the doctor. The culprit was Listeria in the fried chicken rice.

▲Photo: Sina Weibo

Many people are unfamiliar with Listeria, but it is probably around you. Listeria, also known as Listeria monocytogenes or Listeria monocytogenes, is named after Joseph Lister. At the same time, it has another chilling name - the refrigerator killer.

Over the years, there have been many cases of food poisoning caused by Listeria, with the earliest report being in 1929.

In 1983, an outbreak of listeriosis caused by pasteurized milk occurred in Massachusetts, USA, in which 49 people became ill, 29% of whom died.

From the beginning of 1998 to January 6, 1999, at least 50 cases of Listeria monocytogenes occurred in 11 states in the United States, including 6 adult deaths and 2 miscarriages in pregnant women.

In January 2017, an outbreak of listeriosis occurred in South Africa, killing 180 people and infecting 948 people.

1. How powerful is Listeria?

In order to preserve food, people put the food they buy into the refrigerator because the low temperature in the refrigerator can inhibit the reproduction of most bacteria. However, Listeria is an exception. One of its characteristics is that it is not afraid of cold!

Even in an environment of 0-4°C, it can still reproduce, and even at -20°C it can survive for a year. Therefore, for food that has been infected by Listeria, the refrigerator is simply a piece of cake for it. It is even more rampant at room temperature, and an environment of 25-35°C is the most suitable temperature for its growth and reproduction. [1]

In addition, Listeria is also resistant to heat (60°C), salt, dryness, and chemical agents.

2. What happens after infection?

Since Listeria is so powerful, it is of course very dangerous if you are infected.

Listeria affects the human body mainly by invading the central nervous system, throat and lymph nodes, infecting the gastrointestinal tract, and gradually spreading to local lymph nodes, and finally infecting internal organs. [2]

The main symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, chills, discolored urine, etc., which can lead to meningitis, myocarditis, sepsis, miscarriage during pregnancy, stillbirth, etc., and in severe cases, death. According to data, the mortality rate of Listeria is as high as 30-70%.

3. Which foods are the most dangerous?

Listeria is widely present in the foods we often eat, such as dairy products, meat products, vegetable products, cold drinks and other foods.

Milk that has not been pasteurized or heated to room temperature is more likely to carry Listeria. It is estimated that soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk (also called raw milk) are 50 to 160 times more likely to cause Listeria infection than those made from pasteurized milk.[3]

Processed meat foods, such as hot dogs and luncheon meat, may also be contaminated with Listeria if they are not heated thoroughly before consumption.

Ice cream and other cold drinks use dairy products as raw materials, so they are also one of the foods contaminated by Listeria. And Listeria is not afraid of cold, so it can continue to reproduce in ice cream.

4. How can you avoid Listeria infection?

Combined with the recommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, in order to prevent Listeria infection, it is recommended to do the following 8 points:

① Don’t drink raw milk:

Make sure the milk you buy says "pasteurized", or ultra-high temperature instant sterilization is also acceptable. The most important thing is to buy it through formal channels, such as large supermarkets, flagship stores, etc. Big brands are more reliable.

Do not buy from retailers, as research has found that drinking milk purchased from retailers may increase the risk of listeriosis, possibly due to improper storage that allows Listeria to grow during storage.[2]

② Do not eat raw bean sprouts:

Bean sprouts grow in a warm and humid environment, which is conducive to the growth of Listeria and other bacteria. And even if you wash them many times, you can't clean the bacteria away.

Therefore, do not eat raw bean sprouts or use them directly to make cold dishes. When dining out, do not order dishes with raw bean sprouts. Make sure they are cooked and heated thoroughly before eating them safely.

③ Meat products: such as hot dogs and luncheon meat, must be heated thoroughly before eating. Do not eat refrigerated meat sauces from delicatessens or counter refrigerated areas.

④ Smoked fish: Do not eat refrigerated smoked fish directly. It needs to be heated and cooked thoroughly before it can be eaten.

⑤ Chopping board: When using a chopping board, keep raw and cooked food separate, and clean and dry it promptly after use.

⑥ Clean the refrigerator regularly: Refrigerators that have been used for a long time are prone to breed bacteria and need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly, including the inside of the refrigerator and door handles.

⑦ Leftovers: Leftover food should be placed in a sealed container with a lid within 2 hours and stored in the refrigerator.

⑧ Thawing meat: Do not thaw raw meat repeatedly. Cut it into small pieces before freezing and thaw it as you eat.

Summarize:

Listeria infection can be spread through many channels, and prevention is the main focus in daily life, especially for special groups with low immunity, such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases.

In addition, you also need to pay attention to personal hygiene and wash your hands and disinfect them before and after meals.

References:

[1] Shen Xiaosheng, Zheng Guoxing, Li Qing, et al. Hazards and detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food[J]. Food and Fermentation Industries, 2004, 30(8):87-91. DOI:10.3321/j.issn:0253-990X.2004.08.022.

[2] Feng Jiangrong, Li Chunjie. Analysis of harmful microbial contamination and hazards of raw milk[J]. Grassland Science, 2016, 33(9): 1875-1892. DOI: 10.11829/j.issn.1001-0629.2015-0705.

[3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention.html