Listeria infections are on the rise

The United States fell short of its 2005 goal to reduce cases of sickness from the food-borne bacterium Listeria monocytogenes by 50%, according to a government report released Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the rate of listeria food poisoning rose in 2005 to 3 cases per million people, an increase from 2.7 cases per million a year earlier.

Listeria infection is potentially fatal for at-risk populations including the very young and elderly. It can cause high fever, severe headache and nausea. U.S. health officials say it triggers about 2,500 illnesses each year and 500 deaths.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said the department, which oversees regulations designed to stop the spread of the bacteria, has rules in place that should help lower future incidences.

The Consumer Federation of America, an advocacy group, said that although the government made progress lowering the rate between 1996 and 2002, listeria cases have started to climb because the USDA hasn’t established tighter controls for deli meats and hot dogs.