The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning people to avoid Hispanic-style cheese that they believe is related to an outbreak of listeria that has spread to New York.
The agency said on Friday that it had not identified the specific origin of the virus, but suspected that the specific cheese was involved.
“Don’t eat any fresh, soft Hispanic-style cheese (like queso fresco, queso blanco and queso pan) until we identify a specific type or brand that is making people sick,” the agency wrote in a statement on Friday.
Seven people aged 45 to 75 became ill and were hospitalized with the disease between October 20 and February 11, according to the CDC.
Six of the cases were identified this year. Four were found in Maryland, one in Virginia, one in New York and one in Connecticut.
At least four people interviewed by health officials reported eating at least one fresh Hispanic-style cheese before falling ill.
Pregnant women and people aged 65 and over are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with the bacteria and may experience symptoms as mild as fever, fatigue and muscle pain – and as severe as having a miscarriage, the agency said.
No recall has been issued yet.