Possible listeria exposure in

If listeria is in jails it is in hospitals and school and other institutional settings.

Possible listeria exposure in Ontario jails

Prisoners at several correctional institutions across Ontario may have been exposed to listeria, health officials are warning.

The operator of Eurest Dining Services, which produces and supplies food to Ontario correctional facilities, informed the Halton Regional Health Department on Friday that samples taken during routine surveillance at its food-production facility had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The positive tests are connected to food that may have been consumed between Nov. 13 and Nov. 16 at seven Ontario facilities:

* Maplehurst and the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton.
* Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.
* Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay.
* Ottawa-Carleton Correctional Centre.
* St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre and the Brockville Jail in Brockville.

So far, there have been no reported cases of listeriosis among prisoners.

"Although there have been no cases, I am asking individuals who were present at these seven correctional institutions between the dates of Nov. 13 and 16, 2008 to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of listeriosis," said Dr. David Williams, the province's acting chief medical officer of health, said in a news release Saturday.

James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4