Health officials are investigating a new outbreak of a deadly bacteria being spread by an unknown source.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported Friday that 11 people had been sickened by the bacteria listeria monocytogenes.
However, officials have not yet been able to trace the source of the outbreak.
No further information has been published about the outbreak, including the location or ages of the patients. An unknown source means Americans everywhere could be at risk of contracting the disease.
Listeria is a major cause of severe foodborne illness in the US, causing symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting and a flu-like fever or chills. In serious cases, it can spread to the bloodstream and cause the life-threatening complication sepsis.
No recall has been initiated by the FDA linked to the outbreak at this time.
No advice has been given to consumers regarding foods or products to avoid, but in previous outbreaks consumers have been urged to carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that may contain listeria.
They have also been advised to cook food thoroughly before consumption. Listeria cannot survive temperatures above 149F (65C).
Health officials are investigating a mysterious new outbreak of the deadly foodborne bacteria listeria
The outbreak was revealed by the FDA online in its latest report on ongoing food outbreaks. An alert is yet to be issued.
The agency said it has now begun traceback efforts and is interviewing patients in order to determine the potential source.
There are currently three active listeria outbreaks, according to recent FDA data.
This follows an open active investigation for a separate listeria outbreak on September 23, which has sickened 44 people.
On July 22, another outbreak of the deadly bacteria sickened 11 people. It is still active, according to the FDA, with no source identified yet.
Officials added that there were likely many more illnesses, saying that for every confirmed case in an outbreak about 29 are not recorded.
The Daily Mail reached out to the FDA for additional details.
Listeria can be found in moist environments such as soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.
Many foods can harbor the bug, including unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as pre-packed sandwiches.
Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, are also a risk.
About 1,250 Americans are infected with listeria each year, data suggests, while 250 die from the disease.
For most healthy people, a Listeria infection causes mild intestinal illness and they can recover on their own without antibiotics.
However, if the bacteria spread beyond the gut, the infection can become far more serious, causing fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures, sometimes following diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Those with invasive listeriosis generally require antibiotic treatment and hospitalization, with older adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems at greatest risk of severe illness.
The CDC estimates that about one in five people with listeriosis die from the infection, making it one of the deadliest foodborne illnesses in the US
Pregnant women, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk for contracting this bacteria. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
