Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to frozen corn and possibly to other frozen vegetables from Hungary

Frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in Europe. The outbreak was confirmed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and appears to be ongoing in five EU Member States (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom) since 2015. As of 15 June 2018, 47 cases have been reported, and nine patients have died due to or with the infection (case fatality rate of 19%). WGS analysis of 29 non-human L. monocytogenes isolates found them to be closely related to the multi-country human cluster of L. monocytogenes serogroup IVb, multi-locus sequence type 6 (ST6). The available information confirms the contamination at the Hungarian plant. The outbreak has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom since 2015. The products produced by the affected plant have been banned from the market. @ https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-1448