Skip Navigation Menu
Government of Ontario Central Web Site Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Return to Home Page Government of Ontario Central Web Site Contact us for questions and comments Site map Version française de cette site web
Information Channels Public Information Health Care Providers News Media Text Only Version
Index
Skip column one
News Release

Maple Leaf Food Listeria Outbreak Declared Over

Forty-three Cases Were Linked To The Outbreak


News Release Printable Version [PDF]

December 8, 2008

NEWS

Dr. David Williams, Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, said the listeria outbreak associated with Maple Leaf food products is over.

The date of onset of illness of the last individual associated with the outbreak was September 26.

Laboratory results for any listeria cases were monitored until November 26 since the incubation period for listeria can be as long as 70 days. Results showed that no cases of listeria after September 24 had the same DNA fingerprint as the cases linked to the outbreak.

# Total cases as of Dec. 8, 2008 # confirmed cases # cases under investigation
43 41 2
# deaths among confirmed cases # deaths where listeriosis was an underlying or contributing cause # deaths where cause is undetermined
22 15 7

QUOTES

“The listeriosis outbreak associated with the Maple Leaf food products is over,” said Dr. David Williams, Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health. “We know this because no new listeria cases in the last 70 days or so has had the same DNA fingerprint as the cases linked to the outbreak.”

QUICK FACTS
  • The average age of confirmed cases is 77.
  • Almost all confirmed cases with complete information live in an institution or were hospitalized prior to the onset of the illness. Four confirmed cases were not hospitalized or did not reside in an institution prior to the onset of the illness, and a small number of confirmed cases have information pending.
LEARN MORE

Find out more about the Listeriosis outbreak online.

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)

Members of the media :

Andrew Morrison, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news


For more information
Media Line
Toll-free : 1-888-414-4774
In Toronto : 416-314-6197

For public inquiries, call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
 If you are a reporter with a question for a story, or with comments about how this News Media section could serve you better, send us an email at : media@moh.gov.on.ca.
Go to top of page
|  return to news releases menu  |  
|  home  |  central site  |  contact us  |  site map  |  français  |

This site maintained by the government of Ontario, Canada.

© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2007  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimers  |   Last Modified :