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Two more patients die in UK amid listeria outbreak linked to sandwiches

Two more hospital patients have died in the UK after eating pre-packaged sandwiches and salads li...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

20.48 14 Jun 2019


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Two more patients die in UK am...

Two more patients die in UK amid listeria outbreak linked to sandwiches

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

20.48 14 Jun 2019


Share this article


Two more hospital patients have died in the UK after eating pre-packaged sandwiches and salads linked to an outbreak of listeria.

It takes the total number of deaths in England to five - after three were confirmed in Liverpool and Manchester last week.

Officials say there are now nine confirmed cases of listeria linked to the outbreak, which has affected seriously-ill patients.

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The sandwiches and salads in question were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the listeria infections were first identified.

Dr Nick Phin of Public Health England, explained: "To date, there have been no patients linked to this incident outside healthcare organisations, but we continue to investigate.

"Swift action was taken to protect patients and any risk to the public is low."

Last week, the sandwich supplier - the Good Food Chain - voluntarily chose to cease production while an investigation into the outbreak is carried out.

The supplier and distributor of the meat in the sandwiches also suspended production.

Supplier North Country Cooked Meats had produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria, according to Public Health England.

Listeria infections are rare, and for healthy people the bacteria usually goes unnoticed or causes only very mild illness.

However, for others it can have serious consequences - particularly for people with pre-existing health conditions or pregnant women.

Main image: File photo. Picture by: Joe Giddens/PA Archive/PA Images

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