Two people have died in Listeria outbreaks in 12 U.S. states. The CDC says the outbreak is linked to sliced ​​deli meats.

As of Friday, a total of 28 people were hospitalized due to the outbreak that began in May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listeria infections have been reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.

According to the CDC, two deaths were reported in Illinois and New Jersey. The agency also noted that a pregnant woman contracted listeria and remained pregnant after she recovered.

Those who got sick told state and local officials that they had eaten “various types of deli meats” in the month before they got sick. Agents interviewed 18 people, 16 of whom said they had eaten deli meats, and found that they typically ate turkey, liverwurst and ham. The deli meats came from various grocery stores and delis, according to the CDC.

The CDC said it compared foods eaten by people affected by the outbreak with foods eaten by people who were infected with listeria but not part of the outbreak. It found that people in the outbreak “were more likely to eat deli-cut turkey and liverwurst.”

“This information suggests that processed meats may be the source of this outbreak,” the CDC said. “However, CDC does not have enough information at this time to say which processed meats are the source of this outbreak.”

According to the CDC, there have been no reports of people contracting listeria from prepackaged deli meats.

The agency noted that the actual number of people affected by the outbreak may be higher than the reported number and that the outbreak may be occurring in other states where no outbreaks are known.

Because some people recover from listeria without any medical care, and therefore are not tested for the illness, recent illnesses can go unreported because it takes three to four weeks to determine whether a person infected with listeria is contagious, the CDC says. An explosion.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service is working to identify the supplier of deli meats that were sliced ​​and purchased by people who became ill during this outbreak, the CDC said.

The CDC recommends not eating deli meats until they have been reheated before eating, and advises pregnant women, people 65 or older, or anyone with a weakened immune system to see a doctor. Listeria symptomsThese include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.