Listeriosis death toll climbs to 16 in Canada

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Listeriosis death toll climbs

Tainted meat now being blamed for 16 deaths

Canwest News Service

Published: Thursday, September 11, 2008

OTTAWA - The death toll for the listeriosis outbreak linked to

tainted meat products has reached 16.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the 16th death Thursday

on its website.

Ottawa health officials confirmed Thursday that the weekend death of

an elderly woman in that city was linked to contaminated meat

products from Maple Leaf Foods' Toronto plant.

" The laboratory results for the individual who died last weekend in

Ottawa of listeriosis are a matched for the listeria implicated in

the recent nationwide processed meat recall, " said Dr. Isra Levy,

Ottawa's medical officer of health.

The most recent confirmation brings to 14 the number of fatalities in

Ontario where listeriosis linked to deli meat from Maple Leaf was an

underlying or contributing cause. The other two confirmed deaths were

in B.C. and Alberta.

There are still five deaths under investigation where listeriosis may

be the main contributing factor.

Across Canada, there have been are 43 confirmed cases of listeriosis,

with another 19 suspected cases.

Maple Leaf Foods has recalled 191 products sold across the country

over fears they could contain meats tainted with listeria, which

causes the food-borne illness listeriosis.

The company determined that bacteria found deep inside two of its

slicing machines was the " most likely " cause of contamination.

© Canwest News Service 2008