

After cooking, use hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting boards and other food preparation surfaces. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water before and after handling or preparing food. To prevent a listeria infection, follow simple food safety guidelines:

A potentially fatal infection after birth.Although a listeria infection might cause only a mild illness in pregnant women, consequences for their babies can include: Pregnant women are much more susceptible to listeria infections than are other healthy adults. Pregnant women and people who have weak immune systems are at highest risk of contracting a listeria infection. Unborn babies can contract a listeria infection from the mother. Certain processed foods - such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and deli meats that have been contaminated after processing.Unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk.Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure used as fertilizer.People can get infected by eating the following: Listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water and animal feces. These signs and symptoms can indicate bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening complication of a listeria infection. If you have a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or sensitivity to light, seek emergency care. The same goes for illness after eating a potentially contaminated product, such as foods made with unpasteurized milk or poorly heated hot dogs or deli meats. If you have a fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea, contact your doctor. If you've eaten a food that's been recalled because of a listeria outbreak, watch for signs or symptoms of illness.

Signs and symptoms of a listeria infection in a newborn can be subtle, but can include: The consequences for the baby, however, can be devastating - the baby can die in the womb or have a life-threatening infection within a few days of being born. Symptoms during pregnancy and in newbornsĭuring pregnancy, a listeria infection is likely to cause only mild signs and symptoms in the mother. If the listeria infection spreads to your nervous system, signs and symptoms can include: Symptoms might begin a few days after you've eaten contaminated food, but it can take 30 days or more before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin. If you develop a listeria infection, you might have:
