No new cases of #Listeriosis: Motsoaledi

Speaking in Johannesburg, Motsoaledi has announced that the outbreak that resulted in over 200 deaths is now over.

"No cases of listeria, due the outbreak strain, has been identified since the first week of June, 2018. For the past three months, no new cases of listeria of the outbreak strain has been identified. 

Motsoaledi says over the last two months, the incidents rate of laboratory confirmed listeria cases has dropped to pre-outbreak levels. 

"Therefore, the conclusion is that the outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa is over. I'm here to announce to you officially that we no longer have a listeria outbreak in South Africa," he said. 

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The outbreak was first declared by the Health Minister in December last year with the source identified as ready-to-eat processed meat products manufactured at a Polokwane production facility. 

SA's biggest food retailers then removed products believed to be linked to food-borne disease.

As of 8 March this year, there were 967 laboratory-confirmed cases reported countrywide since 1 January 2017. 

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Motsoaledi adds this doesn't mean that people will no longer suffer from the disease.

"This does not mean - and I want to emphasize that - that people will no longer suffer from listeriosis. Listeriosis has occurred in South Africa for the last 40 years before the outbreak. This has not changed. The NICD has shown that there's been between 60 and 80 cases every year in South Africa  - even for the last five years," he said.

Consumers are being advised to continue taking food safety precautions, especially when consuming cold meats and other ready-to-eat meat products.