Around 15 people in the Stockholm region were treated in hospital on Thursday with suspected listeria infection after eating at the restaurant. In addition, on Thursday, reports emerged that around a dozen people in Uppsala, as well as several in Örebro and Kronoberg, had to seek medical attention.
At least four of the individuals have been affected by sepsis due to listeria.
The extent of the suspected outbreak is very unusual, according to Mats Lindblad.
I am absolutely surprised. Now, the investigation is not yet complete, but if all these people were infected with listeria at a restaurant, it is highly unusual, he says.
I have worked at the National Food Agency for almost 25 years and I have not previously experienced a restaurant outbreak of listeria.
High levels?
The listeria bacteria can cause serious illness in, for example, people with weakened immune systems, fragile elderly, or pregnant women. For most others, the bacteria are normally harmless. This suggests that the affected restaurant guests may have ingested relatively high levels.
The most likely thing is that you do not get sick at all, says Mats Lindblad.
But the more you get, the greater the risk that you will become ill. When people who are not in the risk group get sick, it is often very high levels of listeria in what they have eaten.
No worry
Even among those who become ill, the more serious symptoms - such as sepsis or meningitis - are unusual.
For most people, there is no reason to worry, according to Mats Lindblad.
No, I actually do not think you need to worry. This is extremely unusual, he says.
However, there are special guidelines from the National Food Agency if you are in a risk group. This may apply to pregnant women, the elderly, or if you have a weakened immune system for some reason.
Listeria is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis infection.
The bacteria are commonly found in nature. It can multiply even at refrigerator temperatures and without oxygen. This increases the risk in food that has a long shelf life and is then eaten without being heated.
This applies, for example, to smoked or cured fish, certain meat products, and mold and blue cheeses.
People who do not belong to any risk group are usually not sick.
People with weakened immune systems or fragile elderly can, however, in severe cases, be affected by sepsis (formerly known as blood poisoning) or meningitis.
Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting also occur.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause flu-like symptoms and, in the worst case, lead to the death of the fetus.
Source: National Food Agency.
