Farm workers harvest cantaloupe in Arizona
Summer is the harvest season for cantaloupe and watermelons. Federal health officials are urging consumers to buy cantaloupes with caution because possibly a whole crop from southern Colorado could be behind a deadly listeria outbreak. Reuters

The listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes has spread to more states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 55 people in 14 states have fallen ill.

The illnesses began either on or after Aug. 4, the CDC noted.

The states that reported illnesses due to listeria-tainted cantaloupe are California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Colorado, where the tainted cantaloupes came from, had the highest number of illnesses.

Colorado's Jensen Farms, where the infected cantaloupes were grown, recalled its Rocky Ford brand ones.

Listeriosis mostly affects older adults, pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with weak immune systems, according to the CDC.

The CDC advises other consumers to not consume these particular cantaloupes if they want to reduce their risk.

California Mexico California California