Listeriosis is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Symptoms in adults include the sudden onset of flulike symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, backache, and sometimes abdominal pain and diarrhea. Symptoms in newborns include respiratory distress, refusal to drink, and vomiting. Possible complications of listeriosis include meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which affects tissues around the brain or spine, and septicemia, which is blood poisoning.
Listeriosis can cause spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.
Listeria bacteria can grow slowly at refrigeration temperatures and can also grow in packages with little or no oxygen. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are found frequently in the environment. They are common in the intestines of humans and animals, milk, soil, leafy vegetables, and food processing environments. Kenneth R. Bolen, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.