A Mean Microorganism

Aurora Saulo (TPSS) was interviewed by CNBC for an article on recent discoveries of the potentially deadly food-borne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes at a United Airlines food-preparation center. The CDC has estimated that about 260 die from listeriosis caused by L. monocytogenes and some 1,600 contract the disease. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, nausea, and diarrhea, or, more seriously, blood sepsis or meningitis. The bacteria can also cause stillbirths. Aurora explained that it’s best to immediately shut down a food-production center in which the bacteria is found. “You don't really wait when it’s that way. Once you find it in the environment, you shut down, you clean up to target Listeria, and then you validate to verify that you don't have Listeria any longer,” she is quoted as saying. “We don't tolerate Listeria because it’s a very mean microorganism.”