Public Health England has issued an update today on its investigation of an outbreak of Listeriosis which has affected patients in seven English hospitals.

The outbreak had been linked to sandwiches provided by The Good Food Chain Company, which also supplied products to University Hospital Hairmyres.

However, following extensive testing and verification, The Good Food Chain Company is no longer part of the ongoing investigation into the source of the outbreak. The investigation is now focusing on suppliers further up the food supply chain.

No cases of Listeriosis have been identified in Lanarkshire or Scotland to date and the risk remains very low.

Those who may have been exposed to a risk of infection and who may develop symptoms are University Hospital Hairmyres inpatients, or people who visited the hospital canteen, who ate sandwiches or salads produced by the Good Food Chain Company during April, May or the first five days of June.

While the risk of infection remains low, NHS Lanarkshire’s Public Health Consultant, Dr John Logan, is advising anyone who may have been exposed to the risk in Lanarkshire, and the medical community, to remain alert to the symptoms.

He said: “We continue to be aware of the possibility of Listeriosis among people who may have consumed an affected product during April, May or until 5 June when the Good Food Chain Company ceased supply of their products.

“As the incubation period for Listeriosis can range from one day to 70 days, we have advised clinicians and GPs to maintain a heightened index of suspicion for Listeriosis until the middle of August.”

Listeriosis infection in healthy people is usually either unnoticed or may cause very mild symptoms of gastroenteritis – sickness and diarrhoea – that usually last a short time without the need for treatment.

However, it can have more serious consequences for young infants, older people, people with pre-existing health conditions, including people who have a suppressed immune system, and pregnant women. People in these groups who think they may have consumed products from the Good Food Chain Company should seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of infection.

For more information visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/update-on-investigation-into-food-supply-chain-linked-to-listeria

www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/listeria/

Information about the outbreak can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/listeria-cases-being-investigated

https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/news-and-alerts/update-on-listeria-cases-being-investigated

For advice on avoiding Listeriosis during pregnancy, please visit the NHS website at: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/how-can-i-avoid-food-poisoning-during-pregnancy/.