More people have been sickened by a food-borne illness from ice cream manufactured by Blue Bell Creameries, this time in Texas. A medical epidemiologist from the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brendan Jackson, confirmed that tests show the three people in Texas have contracted the same strain of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that had been previously identified in five others at a hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Of the five in Kansas, three have died and health officials there say Listeria may have contributed to their deaths.

The three in Texas apparently became ill after eating ice cream produced by Blue Bell Creameries at the company’s facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. That manufacturing plant  has been temporarily closed, leaving three others open.  Jackson said that his agency is continuing to looks for for additional cases and “ensuring we’re taking all actions needed to protect public health.”

A third recall of contaminated Blue Bell Creameries ice cream products was announced Tuesday. More than 25 such products from the Brenham, Texas company have been recalled since last month.

A statement issued by Blue Bell Creameries Thursday said that “it is very distressing to us” if their products are indeed linked to such deaths and illnesses. The statement said the company is “doing everything possible to determine the cause of the outbreak.” Officials confirmed the company is working with federal health inspectors.

The ingestion of foods containing the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can lead to listeriosis, a serious infection. Although listeriosis is known to primarily affect pregnant women and newborns, it can also hit older people and those with weakened immune systems. The mortality rate of listeriosis is 20 percent.

Possible Listeria contamination has led to other recent recalls in the U.S. Last month, Amy’s Kitchen and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. announced separate recalls of foods containing spinach. Also, Sabra Dipping Co. also recalled 30,000 cases of hummus this week because of a possible Listeria contamination. The Texas Rangers Major League Baseball franchise said it will not have Blue Bell products available at their upcoming game against the Houston Astros, a team which previously announced that the same food products would not at their opening day.