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Several health agencies and local authorities are investigating the source of the infection, which is currently linked to prepackaged sandwiches available in English hospitals.
The six people affected were seriously ill in the Public Health England said in a statement Friday at the hospital.
The deceased were treated in two hospitals in the cities of Manchester and Liverpool in the north of England, the health agency I said.
"Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased patients," said Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England in the UK.
"Together with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), colleagues from local authorities and the NHS, we quickly worked to determine the likely cause of this outbreak and took steps to reduce the health risks to the population."
He added that there was "no associated case identified outside of health care organizations" and stated that the risk to the public was low.
Colin Sullivan, head of operations at the FSA, said his agency had taken action from local authorities to "minimize risks based on evidence gathered so far".
"The FSA will continue to investigate the cause of the epidemic and the need for other measures to protect vulnerable groups," he added.
Public Health England said that sandwiches and salads related to illness cases had been removed from hospitals by the supplier, The Good Food Chain. The agency also said the company had voluntarily stopped production while the contamination was being investigated.
"As a result of investigations by Public Health England and the Food Standards Agency, the good food chain has confirmed that its Stone, Staffordshire production site is contaminated with an ingredient from one of its suppliers. of approved meat, "the company said in a CNN statement.
The meat supplier, North Country Cooked Meats, and its distributor, North Country Quality Foods, also voluntarily stopped production while the investigation was ongoing, Public Health England said.
CNN contacted North Country Quality Foods for comments.
Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea.
Pregnant women, newborns, older adults and anyone with weakened immune systems are most at risk for listeriosis infection. The risk for pregnant women is that the disease can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.
Public Health England reported that the National Health Service in England and Wales sees an average of 166 cases of Listeria infection per year. An average of 46 deaths per year due to Listeria were reported between 2010 and 2016.
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