A new CDC Vital Signs report says that Listeria food poisoning is striking hard at the nations most vulnerable populations. Adults aged 65 years and older are among the groups most affected; they are four times more likely to get Listeria infection than the general U.S. population. Pregnant women are 10 times more likely get it and pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more likely. These groups along with newborns and people with other health conditions that weaken their immune systems account for at least 90 percent of reported Listeria infections. The Vital Signs report highlights the need to educate these groups about how to prevent Listeria infections.
