Brits travelling to Spain have been issued an urgent warning after an outbreak of listeria in the country.
Spain, which is popular with Merseyside tourists looking for a cheap beach break, has issued an international health alert.
This comes after a widening outbreak of listeria from pork meat that has affected 150 people and killed one person.
Health Minister Maria Luisa Carcedo said alerts had been posted to the European Union and the World Health Organisation given the possibility that some tourists may be affected.
The outbreak started on August 15 in the southern Andalusia region and claimed its first victim, a 90-year-old woman, on Monday.
The product blamed for the outbreak is a stringy cooked meat sold under the brand "La Mecha".
Authorities have closed the supplier plant and are testing all its products.
Listeriosis is a rare infection caused by bacteria called listeria.
It usually goes away on its own, but can cause serious problems if you're pregnant or have a weak immune system.
It is usually caught from eating food containing the listeria bacteria.
In most people, listeriosis has no symptoms or only causes mild symptoms for a few days, such as:
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling sick or vomiting
- diarrhoea
How to avoid listeriosis
There are some simple things you can do to reduce your risk of getting listeriosis:
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- wash fruit and vegetables before eating them
- store ready-to-eat foods as recommended by the manufacturer
- make sure all hot food is steaming hot all the way through
