CAPE TOWN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Death toll from a listeriosis outbreak in South Africa has reached 61 since January 2017, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Monday.
There have been 727 laboratory-confirmed cases that occurred in the country during this period, the minister said at a press briefing.
The actual number of deaths might be higher as it was extremely difficult to trace a patient, Motsoaledi said.
Out of the 727 laboratory-confirmed cases, health workers were only able to trace 134 actual patients, said the minister.
"This means that we still have a very long way to go in searching," he said.
In all major listeriosis epidemics around the world, the mortality rate is usually high despite the fact that listeria monocytogenes is treatable, said Motsoaledi.
"This is because it is a very virulent organism, especially to neonates," he added.
Listeriosis is a serious but preventable and treatable disease caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria can contaminate animal products, vegetables and fruits. symptoms from the food-borne disease include diarrhoea, fever, body pains and vomiting.
