Infection with listeria causes listeriosis – a food-borne disease caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes.

A listeria outbreak in the United States — linked to Boar’s Head deli meats — has now killed five more people, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. There have also been 14 new illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. According to records shared with CBS News by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are dozens of violations linked to the company’s Jarrett plant — including reports of mold, mildew and insects throughout the facility.

A total of 57 people in 13 states have become ill after eating contaminated meat – all of them had to be hospitalized, a CDC spokesperson told the media. The five most recent deaths occurred in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and two in South Carolina. “Consumers who were unaware of the recall may have eaten recalled products. The illness may also last longer,” a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Health said in a statement after the new deaths.

Because of the outbreak, the company has recalled millions of pounds of meat since May, when the infection was first reported. The recall includes about 70 products – ham, beef and poultry – produced at the Jarratt plant.

According to the CDC, this is the largest listeria outbreak in the country since 2011.

Boar’s Head: Crop production stalled

Boar’s Head told the New York Post that production at the plant has been paused “and will not resume until we are satisfied that it meets the standards our customers expect and deserve.”

“We are conducting a comprehensive investigation in conjunction with leading food safety experts to find out how our liver sausage produced at our Jarratt plant was adulterated and to prevent this from happening again,” a company spokesperson said.

According to media reports, Boar’s Head – a nearly 120-year-old family-owned company based in Sarasota, Florida – has recalled 3.8 million kilograms of meat as of last month. In June, the company had already removed 90,000 kilograms from the shelves.

What are listeria?

Infection with listeria causes listeriosis – a food-borne illness caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes, which is commonly found in soil, groundwater, decaying vegetation and animal feces. Doctors say most people contract listeriosis from eating contaminated food.

Listeria bacteria can survive and even multiply when refrigerated. The CDC estimates that an estimated 1,600 people get Listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die. Infections can be difficult to pinpoint because symptoms can appear quickly – or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. Doctors say the infection is especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems.

Signs and symptoms of listeriosis

Signs and symptoms of listeriosis include: