Winnipeg, Manitoba, 26 Aug - Twelve people have now died out of 26 confirmed cases of food poisoning linked to deli meat produced at a plant owned by Maple Leaf Foods Inc , Canadian health officials said Monday.
There are another 29 suspected cases, officials told reporters, and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the government expected more cases in coming days.
Previously, four deaths had been attributed to the outbreak.
Listeriosis, an illness that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, infants and people with weak immune systems, was a contributing factor in seven of the deaths, said Mark Raizenne of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Five others had the bacteria in their system, but the causes of their deaths are still under investigation, Raizenne said.
Ritz said the Maple Leaf plant in Toronto associated with the outbreak will not distribute meat until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency determines it is safe.
The company had said it hoped to reopen the plant on Tuesday, but officials said they will test and hold all meat produced there until they are satisfied it is not contaminated.
Maple Leaf shares closed 10 percent lower at C$8.80 ahead of the announcement of the latest deaths.