Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Colorado health officials are warning people at high risk not to eat cantaloupe from Rocky Ford because of a listeriosis outbreak blamed for four deaths in Colorado and New Mexico.

However, Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar says it might not be the cantaloupe, but a contaminated truck or other source.

Colorado health director Chris Urbina says the department is expecting additional test results later this week that might help identify the specific source of the cantaloupe. Rocky Ford is a major supplier of cantaloupe in the region and farmers in southeast Colorado depend heavily on the crop.

Urbina says people who are at high risk for listeriosis include people age 60 and older, those with weakened immune systems from transplants and people with chronic diseases.