The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning people to steer clear of Spanish cheese they believe is linked to a listeria outbreak that has spread to New York.
The agency said Friday it has not identified the specific source of the virus, but suspects that the specific cheese is involved.
“Don’t eat fresh and soft Spanish-style cheeses (such as queso fresco, queso blanco, and queso panela) until we’ve identified a specific type or brand that’s making people sick,” the agency wrote in an advisory Friday.
According to the CDC, seven people between the ages of 45 and 75 fell ill and were hospitalized with the disease between October 20 and February 11.
Six of the cases have been 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 Spanish-style fresh cheese before falling ill.
Pregnant people and people 65 and older are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the bacteria and can experience symptoms as minor as fever, fatigue, and muscle pain – and as severe as miscarriage, the agency said.
No recalls have been issued yet.