Listeria
Listeria is a bacterium commonly found in certain foods, soil, stream water and sewage.
Listeria meningitis is caused when the infection caused by the bacteria invades the nervous system. It occurs mainly in babies, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. It can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy of whilst giving birth. Meningitis mainly occurs in babies who get ill two to three days after birth, with the most common complications being pneumonia and respiratory distress.
Very few cases now occur in the UK. In the main, this is due to improved sanitisation and increased awareness about the risk of eating unpasteurised milk products, pate and under-cooked ready-meals in pregnancy.
The disease can be very serious, with a death rate of about 30%.
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