Listeriosis

A serious infection that is caused by eating food such as uncooked meats and vegetables, soft cheeses, cold cuts, unpasturized milk or foods made from unpasturized milk which are contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and occasional nausea or diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions may occur. The disease primarily affects pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. Babies can be born with Listeriosis if their mothers were contaminated during pregnancy.