Listeriosis alert in Spain: one woman died and 200 people were affected by the meatloaf

The listeriosis outbreak new alarms in Spain, after the confirmation of the Death of a 90 year old woman who consumed the same contaminated meat that affected 200 people and resulted in the hospitalization of about 100 of them, of which two young people who lost their respective pregnancies. The authorities are investigating whether these latter facts are related to the bacteria.

The epidemic mainly affected the region of Andalusia, in the south of the country, with 190 cases, according to regional health authorities. In addition, the death of another person, a 72-year-old man who was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, is the subject of an investigation.

Listeriosis is a food infection caused by a bacterium that It mainly affects people with low defense and can take up to five weeks to declare. In case of ingestion of food contaminated by a pregnant woman, the infection can be pbaded on to the fetus.

This is what happened to Teresa Reyes, one of two pregnant women who suffered an abortion as a result of the outbreak. As he said L & # 39; vanguardOn July 30, the woman who was in the fourth month of pregnancy began to "feel very bad, to suffer many pains" and went to the hospital. They followed a high fever and vomiting. The next day, the the heart of the fetus had stopped beating and had to abort. Doctors are trying to determine if the fact is directly related to the epidemic.

"I ate meat more or less at the end of June and, a month later, I developed the symptoms and lost my son," said the woman at the site. The Diario.es.

The Andalusian authorities launched a health alert on August 15th "on the product of roasted meat under the trade name "La Mechá", manufactured by the company Magrudis ", based in Seville", after verifying that this product is the causative agent of listeriosis outbreaks".

All suspect lots were recalled and the closed factoryaccording to the Minister of Health. At present, it is unclear whether the bacteria were present in the meat or in some of the salad dressings that it carries.

Health badociations have accused the regional government of Andalusia of having been "irresponsible" for having "taken" to give the alarm on the outbreak. As it was learned, the government ordered the removal of contaminated meat from the market five days after experiencing the positive result of listeriosis samples.

The consumer organization Facua has announced that it is preparing a criminal complaint against the company for an alleged crime against public health.