The CDC reported that Listeria was found in samples of precooked chicken products. The source of precooked chicken is being investigated. CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) investigate this outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections. As of July 2, 2021, three people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from two states (Delaware and Texas). All three hospitalized people and one death have been reported from Texas. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 6, 2021, to June 5, 2021. All three people were in a long-term care facility or hospital when they got sick. These facilities served many food items, including meals with precooked chicken. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are identical. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food. USDA-FSIS found the outbreak strain of Listeria in two samples of precooked chicken products during routine product testing. Along with the epidemiologic data, this suggests that people likely got sick from eating pre-cooked chicken. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/precooked-chicken-07-21/details.html
