CDC: 8 dead in listeria outbreak related to Colorado cantaloupe

9/21/2011

WASHINGTON — Federal health officials say the death toll has risen to eight in an outbreak of listeria traced to Colorado cantaloupes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that a person in Maryland has died from eating the tainted produce. Four other deaths were reported in New Mexico, two in Colorado and one in Oklahoma.

The CDC said 55 people in 14 states have now been confirmed as sickened from eating the cantaloupes. On Monday, the CDC reported four deaths and 35 illnesses in 10 states.

The agency said illnesses in several other states potentially connected to the outbreak were under investigation by state and local health departments.

Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo. recalled its cantaloupes after the listeria outbreak was discovered.