An unexplained surge in listeria food poisoning in Australia can lead up to Christmas.  One person is already confirmed dead while six others were hospitalized.  No link has been established yet. 

Listeria Poisoning Can Come From A Lot Of Sources

Listeria is a bacteria found in soil and water and some animals, like poultry and cattle.  It can also be present in raw milk and foods made from raw milk, and can also live in food processing plants and contaminate a variety of processed meats.

In Victoria, Australia, a total of seven cases of food poisoning have been reported in the past three weeks, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed.  A spokesperson from the department said that none of the cases were linked and people of varying ages had been affected.

The Disease Primarily Targets Pregnant Women, Newborn, And The Elderly

A health alert has recently been issued by Victorian doctors already.  High-risk patients like pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, should be extra careful, because listeria can be life-threatening.

Health authorities also issued a wider warning about those who are planning to prepare festive feasts to take extra precautions to guard against food-borne illnesses.  Officials advised that in order to prevent food poisoning, always wash your hands with soap and water and make sure that food is prepared and stored safely. 

Other food safety tips include making sure that food is cooked thoroughly and using different utensils, cutting boards and containers for raw and ready-to- eat food.  If you are unsure about a certain food ingredient's safety, it's better to just throw it out.

Also, try to avoid soft cheeses, ready-to-eat seafood such as cooked chilled prawns, smoked fish oysters or raw seafood, pre-prepared salads and sandwiches, drinks made from fresh fruit and vegetables and unpasteurised dairy products or soft-serve ice cream, because these are high-risk groups.