Iowa woman’s miscarriage blamed on contaminated cantaloupe

An Iowa woman’s miscarriage has been blamed on Listeria poisoning she developed after eating contaminated cantaloupe.

At least 20 people have died and another 100 sickened after eating cantaloupe grown and distributed by Colorado-based Jensen Farms. The company issued a nationwide recall on its cantaloupe on Sept. 14, including about 300,000 pieces of whole fruit. Victims have been reported in 20 states and federal health officials believe more victims will added to these totals.

According to an MSNBC.com report, the Iowa woman began suffering symptoms of Listeria poisoning several weeks after she ate one of Jensen Farms Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes. Listeria bacteria can remain dormant in a person for several weeks before causing any symptoms. An Iowa health official said the Listeria poisoning played a key role in the miscarriage.

Early signs of Listeria poisoning include severe headaches, muscle cramps and painful joints, nausea and dizziness. Nearly every victim in this outbreak has required hospitalization for treatment.

Listeria poisoning affects the elderly, children and pregnant women most severely and previous reports of infection have resulted in miscarriage or stillbirth. Three pregnant women have been infected with Listeria poisoning after eating the contaminated cantaloupe included in this recall. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told MSNBC.com the two other women’s pregnancy are being monitored but no complications have arisen.