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22 December 2006
In recent years there has been an increase in listeriosis in elderly and or immuncompromised people. During the festive season there is more chance of being be exposed to listeria-risky foods.
Listeria infection is a bacterial infection that can cause serious illness or death in a small number of people in our community.
A successful listeria campaign targeting pregnant woman has been in place in WA since the mid 1990s. As a result, pregnancy-related listeriosis rates have been dramatically reduced (in 2000, 50% of listeria cases were pregnancy related compared to 8% in 2006). However, in recent years there has been an increase in listeriosis in elderly and or immuncompromised people.Nationally, there were 56 listeria cases notified in 2005, of which 93% of cases were elderly and or immunocompromised. Between 2000 and 2006, 67 cases were notified to the Department of Health in WA. Of these, 78% (52 cases) were not pregnancy-related cases, but in persons with cancer or other immunocompromising conditions. Of the 52 non-pregnancy-associated cases, approximately 30% were being treated for cancer (mainly haematological) and the remainder were associated with a range of other immunocompromising conditions including autoimmune disorders, organ transplantation, cardiomyopathy, emphysema and renal dialysis, or were undertaking immunosuppressive treatments such as corticosteroids and chemotherapy. There were eight deaths (case fatality rate 12%) in the non-pregnancy associated cases. These data highlight the changing epidemiology of this disease.Interviews with patients revealed that a large proportion had consumed foods considered to be high risk for listeria and that many were not aware that their condition(s) made them more susceptible to this infection.During the festive season, elderly and or immunocompromised people are more likely to be exposed to listeria-risky foods, such as pre-prepared dips and salads, soft cheeses, pates, cold/smoked/raw seafood and left-over cold meats. It is recommended that elderly and or immunocompromised people avoid these foods unless they are freshly cooked or heated to a steaming hot temperature.A Preventing Listeria Infection fact sheet can be down loaded from http://www.population.health.wa.gov.au/Communicable/docs/fact_sheet_listeria_dec_2006.pdf
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