1. Food poisoning: Listeria

2. Introduction
Listeria infection is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems. Listeria is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

3. Transmission
This disease is transmitted through foodborne and waterborne transportation. Humans typically are infected by consuming Raw vegetables and animal meat that have been contaminated. Certain processed foods and Unpasteurized milk can also cause this disease. Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing temperatures.

4. People who are not pregnant
Symptoms
Pregnant women
People who are not pregnant
Little interest in feeding
Irritability
Fever
Vomiting
Listeria is likely to cause only mild symptoms in the mother, however, The baby may die before birth or experience a life-threatening infection.
Fever
Muscle aches
Nausea
Diarrhea

5. Treatments/ Prognosis
Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Most people with mild symptoms require no treatment. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from affecting the baby.
Although a listeria infection may cause only a mild illness in the mother, consequences for the baby may include Miscarriage or a potentially fatal infection after birth.

6. Prevention
To prevent a listeria infection, follow simple food safety guidelines:
Wash your hands thoroughly and after cooking, wash all equipment!
Clean raw vegetables and meats
Cook your food thoroughly
Don't eat soft cheeses unless the product was made using pasteurized milk.

7. Geographic significance
In 2010, Listeria monocytogenes was estimated to infect 23,150 people worldwide. It killed 5,463 of them. Most Listeria cases are reported in high-income countries. Because of its high hospitalization rate in the U.S., it’s the third most costly foodborne pathogen. Researchers found that Listeria caused the highest burden on quality of life in Latin American regions.

8. Informative resources
Mayo clinic: infection/symptoms-causes/syc
Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC):

9. Fun Video

10. Reference list https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/diagnosis.html
infection/symptoms-causes/syc
burden-of-listeria/#.Ww8b_0xFxMs