Illinois woman hospitalized in listeria outbreak

SPRINGFIELD— Illinois public health officials say an 82-year-old suburban Chicago woman from Cook County has been infected with listeriosis linked to cantaloupes shipped from a Colorado farm.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the Illinois woman’s case on Monday. Health officials say she became ill Sept. 7 after reporting that she ate a cantaloupe from a store that recalled the fruit. She was hospitalized.

The CDC says four people have died and 35 people have been sickened in the 10-state outbreak so far. The illnesses have been traced to Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo.

Jensen Farms recalled the melons last week. Symptoms of listeria include fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms.