-Eldica Stuart-

Cousins!

In Health News; there is a current Listeria outbreak which has led to two lawsuits filed against a Sarasota ice cream company!

Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota Florida is now being held accountable and is being sued due to the allegations of a woman getting listeria from their ice-cream and ultimately dying. There is an ongoing outbreak of Listeria in Sarasota amongst other locations.

According to USA Today, there is a current lawsuit that was filed on Tuesday in federal court by the estate of Illinois resident Mary Billman.

Reports read that Mary allegedly had their ice-cream on January 18, 2022, and her body began to shut down. She developed a fever of 103 degrees and gastrointestinal symptoms. It has been indicated that was treated at Memorial Regional Hospital where she was primarily being  treated for septic illness. Within the next two days, Mary’s organs shut down, leaving her unconscious. Ultimately she died exactly 11 days later.

The second case of Listeria comes from a woman who suffered a miscarriage after eating the ice cream twice at Beverly’s Ice Cream who receives manufactured ice-cream from Big Olaf Creamery. The woman identified as Imbruglia Hopkins was visiting Florida for a family wedding.

 According to ABC Action News Tampa, the pregnant woman began to develop symptoms on her return home back in May. She developed intensified pains and an extreme headache. The woman’s symptoms exacerbated and worsened; she went to the hospital. They later admitted her to the ICU for observation, confirming she was positive for Listeria and advised she may need a hysterectomy.  Court documents show that the sample matched the strain involved in the outbreak and the woman and her spouse are concerned about their future fertility.

 The CDC issued an advisory, there are 23 people known to be infected that either live in or traveled to Florida. Reports read that of the 23 people, 22 are hospitalized and one has died.

Listeria is a condition that has various symptoms but not limited to fever, stiff neck, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea, and severe headache, if untreated it can lead to meningitis, encephalitis, and endocarditis. It is caused by ingesting contaminated processed food with Listeria