The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people to steer clear of Hispanic-style cheese it believes is linked to a listeria outbreak that has spread to New York.
The agency said Friday it has not pinpointed the specific source of the virus, but suspects the specific cheese is involved.
“Don’t eat any Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses (like queso fresco, queso blanco, and queso panela), until we identify a specific type or brand that is making people sick,” the agency wrote in an advisory on Friday.
Seven people between the ages of 45 and 75, have become ill and were hospitalized with the sickness between Oct. 20 and Feb. 11, according to the CDC.
Six of the cases were 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 Hispanic-style fresh cheese prior to becoming ill.
Pregnant people and those 65 and older are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the bacteria and can experience symptoms as minor as fever, fatigue and muscle aches — and as severe as suffering a miscarriage, the agency said.
No recalls have been issued yet.