National listeria outbreak hasn’t affected Clark County

Clark County has no recorded cases tied to the national listeria outbreak that has killed two people and sickened 26 others in the United States, according to Clark County Public Health.

The last time someone in Clark County was sick from listeria was more than a year ago, according to Public Health spokeswoman Marissa Armstrong. Clark County food distributors are contacting their customers and pulling recalled products from their inventory, she said.

The last national foodborne illness outbreak with cases identified in Clark County was the salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes, which began in October 2023, according to Armstrong.

Public Health has been spreading the word to the local community about the nationwide listeria outbreak, which began after a sample of Rizo Bros Aged Cotija tested positive for listeria in January. One person in Washington has become sick, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. voluntarily recalled all sell-by dates of its dairy products. The recalled products include cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Some of the products were sold unbranded as taco kits, wraps and meals at retailers with stores around Vancouver, including Safeway, Costco and Albertsons.

These products were also sold under the brand names Bright Farms, Campesino, Casa Cardenas, Dole, Don Francisco, Don Pancho, Dos Ranchitos, El Huache, Food City, Fresh & Ready Foods, Fresh Express, H-E-B, Jack & Olive, La Ordena, Marketside, Maverick Foods, President’s Choice, Ready Pac Bistro, Rio Grande, Rizo Bros, Rojos, San Carlos, Santa Maria, Sprig & Sprout (S&S), The Perfect Bite Co., Tio Francisco, Trader Joe’s and 365 Whole Foods Market.

Experts recommend throwing away these products if already purchased. Additionally, the FDA recommends cleaning any surfaces the products touched because listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Listeria symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food. Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting and diarrhea. More severe cases may cause a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Experts recommend calling a health provider as soon as these symptoms appear.