Listeria outbreak in Sweden: 20 infected, health agencies issue alert

Published On 2025-10-03 06:18 GMT   |   Update On 2025-10-03 06:18 GMT

 

Helsinki (The Uttam Hindu): Several people suddenly fell ill after eating at a restaurant in Stockholm. Investigations revealed Listeria infection, which spreads through food. So far, around 20 people have fallen ill due to this infection, four of whom have developed sepsis (a serious blood infection). After this case came to light, Swedish health agencies have become alert and have started a major contact tracing campaign. Symptoms like high fever, vomiting and diarrhea have been seen in the sick people.


Officials said they have contacted about 400 people who ate at the restaurant between September 23 and 27 to determine how many more have been infected. So far, more than 80 people have reported feeling unwell after eating the food. Infectious disease expert Dr. Victor Dahl said this number is believed to be significantly higher than normal. The number of patients and the rapid onset of symptoms is unusual. Listeria typically takes time to show symptoms.


Sweden's Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, Jakob Forsmed, stated that the government has been informed of the incident, and health departments across the country are working swiftly to contain the infection. Those who fell ill are being monitored, and contact tracing is ongoing. The restaurant has been temporarily closed following the outbreak. If all goes well, it may reopen on October 7th, reports Xinhua news agency. However, the restaurant is being cleaned and inspected during this time to prevent further exposure.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), listeria is a serious illness caused by the bacterium L. monocytogenes. It is a rare disease, with an incidence of 0.1 to 10 cases per million people per year, depending on the country and region of the world. While this illness is not common, it can be life-threatening, especially for the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.


The most dangerous thing about Listeria is that its bacterium, called Monocytogenes, can survive and grow even in the refrigerator, whereas most bacteria die in the cold. This is why even cold food can sometimes become infected. Eating contaminated food spreads the disease, and in pregnant women, it can even spread to the baby. Testing for this disease is usually done using blood, vomit, diarrhea, or food samples. In pregnant women, blood and placenta tests are considered the most reliable.

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