Listeria outbreak tied to sliced deli meat hospitalizes 57, kills 9

Six more people have died in a massive Listeria outbreak tied to the consumption of sliced deli meat, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) announced on Wednesday (Aug. 28)

The CDC has been investigating the outbreak since July 19.

All told 57 people have been hospitalized and nine people have died across 18 states in the current outbreak. The six new deaths occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, New York and South Carolina.

This is the largest outbreak of listeriosis since the 2011 outbreak linked to the consumption of contaminated cantaloupe, which sickened 146 people and killed 30.

Related: Ice cream cups sold in 20 states linked to Listeria outbreak, CDC warns

The current outbreak is tied to deli meat products from Boar's Head, including the Strassburger Brand Liverwurst. Products sold at the deli may be contaminated with the bacteria. Boar's Head has recalled many of its deli products, including the Strassburger Brand Liverwurst. In a statement released July 25, the company said that they "deeply regret the impact this recall has had on affected families."

Listeriosis is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Mild cases of listeriosis may include fever, muscle aches and nausea, while more severe forms can cause headaches, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. Listeria is particularly dangerous in pregnancy, as it can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery. In some people, symptoms can take up to 10 weeks to develop. Severe disease usually starts to develop around one to four weeks after eating contaminated food.