By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Listeria outbreak claims Oklahoman, 5 others sick
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The deadly listeria outbreak connected to cantaloupes from Colorado has claimed the life of an Oklahoma man and sickened five others.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed Friday the person who died was a Canadian County man. Health Department officials said in a statement all of those who are sick are over the age of 60 and all were hospitalized.
Officials are investigating several other possible cases.
Four other deaths have been linked to the outbreak nationwide: one in Colorado, one in New Mexico and two others in New Mexico that are under investigation.
Listeria is commonly found in the environment. People typically contract the disease by consuming contaminated food or unpasteurized dairy products.
Officials say the cantaloupes were shipped by Jensen Farms from near Rocky Ford, Colorado.