Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the death toll related to the recent listeria outbreak from contaminated cantaloupes has risen.

25 deaths reported to the CDC have been linked to listeriosis and the consumption of Jensen Farms’ recalled cantaloupes.  The recall was issued last month, but the bacteria can remain in a person’s system for several weeks after it is ingested.

6 of the deaths linked to the cantaloupes were people in Colorado.  Across the U.S., 123 cases of listerisosis have been linked to the contaminated product.

Investigators have been at Jensen Farms looking for the cause of the contamination.  They believe conditions at the farm and equipment are to blame.  Several wrongful death lawsuits against the farm and its distributor have already been filed on behalf of the victims of the listeriosis outbreak.