ATLANTA —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to investigate a multi-state outbreak of Listeria linked to sliced deli meat.

Information from the agency said two people have died, with 28 people ending up in the hospital in 12 states. The deaths occurred in Illinois and New Jersey.

New York reported seven cases and six were in Maryland. Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia each reported two cases while Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each reported one case.

The CDC stated that many people in the outbreak reported eating meat sliced at deli counters. The agency noted that it did not have have reports of people getting sick after eating prepackaged deli meats.

Samples from sick people were collected from May 29 to July 5.

“Of the 18 people able to be interviewed, 16 (89%) reported eating meats sliced at a deli, most commonly deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst, and ham,” the CDC said. “Meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis.”

USDA-FSIS will work to identify the suppliers of deli meats that were sliced at deli counters purchased by people during the outbreak.

The CDC also encouraged people sick with listeriosis to work with local or state health officials to determine what they ate in the month prior to getting sick. The agency said they it ask for copies of receipts, shopper card numbers or leftover food for testing.