JOHANNESBURG - The death toll from the
world's largest ever outbreak of the food-borne disease listeria
has risen to 204, but the number of new cases has declined
sharply after products were recalled, South African authorities
said on Thursday.
The health department recalled processed meat products known
as "polony", after the source of the outbreak was traced to a
factory owned by Tiger Brands unit Enterprise Foods in
March resulting in a class action lawsuit filed against the
company.
"Since identification of the source of the outbreak and
recall of implicated products, the number of cases of listeria
has declined drastically," the Department of Health and the
Department of Agriculture said in a joint statement.
The number of cases reported has risen to 1,033, the
National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) said.
But the number reported per week had decreased to an average
of 6.4 since March 5, after the products were recalled, compared
with 24.9 previously, it said.
READ: #Listeriosis outbreak toll hits 180, says Motsoaledi
The government said it would review its food safety
legislation and would hold a consultative meeting regarding
compulsory specifications for processed meat.
"Risk profiling of food processing premises is under way and
preparations have been made for a programme of inspections and
laboratory testing of high risk processing facilities of food
that may be at risk for Listeria contamination," the departments
of health and agriculture said.
Listeria is a bacterium found in soil, water and vegetation.
People can be infected through animal products and fresh fruit
and vegetables.