Forbes reported that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported five cases of listeriosis. These infections have been so severe that all five adults affected (two men and three women) have been hospitalized, and three have already died. Five cases of listeriosis are already about a fifth to half of what all of Washington State would expect to see throughout an entire year. The five cases are connected. Four of the five cases have been from Pierce County, and one from Thurston, the neighboring county. WGS has shown that the bacteria from the cases have similar genetic fingerprints. However, authorities have not yet identified the specific source of the outbreak. All those infected are older, in their 60s or 70s, and have weakened immune systems. @ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/07/23/listeria-outbreak-has-left-5-hospitalized-3-dead-in-washington-state/?sh=26b4a65d5735
