Listeria outbreak under control
Two people have died from listeria bacteria after eating a local speciality soft cheese, according to Swiss health officials.
A total of ten people have been admitted to hospital over the past two weeks, but the authorities say the outbreak is now under control.
Officials said that listeria had also been linked to two miscarriages.
Daphné Berner, a senior health official in canton Neuchâtel in northwestern Switzerland, said that traces of listeria – which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections – had been found in both the elderly victims.
She added that both the victims and the miscarriages had been linked to the consumption of locally-made Tomme cheese.
Five people are still in hospital, officials said on Tuesday.
The source of the listeria bacteria is not yet clear, but test results are expected on Thursday.
No epidemic
The authorities have called on people not to eat the cheese until further notice. Pregnant women who have developed a high fever after eating the cheese should consult their doctor, they said.
However, the Federal Health Office said there was no risk of an epidemic.
The cheese which is alleged to be the source of the outbreak has been removed from shop shelves and production of the cheese has been suspended.
The company at the centre of the listeria outbreak produces up to 5,000 blocks of Tomme cheese every week.
The local speciality is made from raw milk, in which listeria can flourish.
Shock
The Swiss Cheese Organisation has reacted with “shock and regret” to the news. It said that the sector regularly checked for listeria in its cheeses.
Listeria monocytogenes is a very resilient bacterium. It can flourish at refrigerator temperatures, and is found in soft cheeses and meats. Initially people develop flu symptoms which can then lead to other infections, including meningitis.
It is particularly dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, young children and the frail.
The last outbreak of the bacteria was in 1987, when it was found in another Swiss cheese, Vacherin Mont d’Or. It caused 30 deaths and miscarriages.
The epidemic badly affected the Vacherin Mont d’Or industry, with 12 cheese-makers having to close down.
swissinfo with agencies
A listeria outbreak in 1987 caused 30 deaths and miscarriages.
It was found in the local Vacherin Mont d’Or – a creamy soft cheese produced in western Switzerland.
In 1989/90, around 35 metric tons of Vacherin had to be destroyed after listeria bacteria were found in the cheese from the same region.
There are up to 50 known cases of infections with listeria bacteria in Switzerland every year.
The death rate is about 20%, mainly people with a weak immune system.
Elderly people as well as pregnant women are most at risk. They are advised not to eat soft cheeses, raw meat, smoked fish and uncooked seafood.
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