Woman Exposed to Listeria After Eating Leftover Pizza
Wakes Up with Severe Headache and Vomiting
Undergoes Emergency Brain Surgery and is Now Recovering
A woman in her 30s suffered severe headaches and vomiting after consuming leftover pizza stored in the refrigerator.
According to the online media outlet Sanook on the 4th (local time), a woman living in Fujian, China, identified as Ms. A, ordered pizza for dinner but couldn’t finish it all in one sitting, so she stored half of it in the refrigerator.
The next day, she took the leftover pizza from the fridge for lunch and went to sleep. Upon awakening, she was overwhelmed by severe headaches and began vomiting profusely, which led her to seek immediate medical attention.
Upon examination at the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with a Listeria infection, causing her cerebrospinal fluid to stratify and meningitis to progress into encephalitis. As a result, she had to undergo emergency brain surgery.
Thanks to her quick recognition of the severe condition and timely arrival at the hospital, Ms. A is recovering after surgery.
Listeria, a bacteria known to cause food poisoning, spreads quickly through dairy products.
It also has a mortality rate of 20%, reaching up to 50% at its highest, making it one of the most dangerous pathogens. It thrives best at temperatures between 39.2-50°F and can multiply very quickly.
Because of this nature, scientists often refer to it as the “hidden killer in the refrigerator.” Furthermore, doctors consider that individuals with low immunity, especially pregnant women, children, the elderly, and cancer patients, are particularly vulnerable to Listeria.
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