The national serum institute, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), has revealed that a further four people have been infected with listeria as part of the ongoing ‘rullepølse’ outbreak that has cost 12 lives over the last 12 months.
All four patients have been infected with bacteria from the same outbreak strain, so the number of people infected has now reached 24, and more cases are expected.
“SSI is testing [a further] three samples from listeria patients to see if they are also part of the outbreak,” SSI wrote in a press release.
“Even though the company has been shut down and products have been taken off the market, it is expected there will be more listeria cases in the coming weeks, as several weeks can pass between the consumption of the infected meat and becoming ill.”
READ MORE: Minister blasts food authorities over listeria handling
Consequences
The food minister, Dan Jørgensen, has launched a full investigation into the outbreak, and the head of preparedness at the food authorities, Fødevarestyrelsen, has been demoted as a consequence.