Campylobacter Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Campylobacter news & outbreaks

March 30, 2006
Yakima Herald-Republic
Jessica Wambach

Since the first of the year, the Yakima Health District has seen a spike in the number of cases of a bacterial infection that causes stomach sickness.

Many of the 41 cases of campylobacteriosis so far this year might be tied to the consumption of unpasteurized milk and related cheese products, said Marianne Patnode, Communicable Disease Services coordinator at the health district.

By this time last year, only 21 people had reported having the bacterial illness characterized by diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms usually appear within two to five days of exposure to the organism and usually last about one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In very rare cases it can be life-threatening, but it is not transmittable from person to person.

March 15, 2006
Daily Record.com
Matt Tullis

MILLERSBURG - A Holmes County dairy farmer may get his milk producer's license back after having it revoked for a $2 sale of raw milk in an unlabeled container.

Arlie Stutzman said representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture showed up at his farm Tuesday morning with paperwork he must fill out to have his license reinstated. His license, which allowed him to sell milk to cheese manufacturers, was revoked by the ODA on Feb. 8 because he sold milk in an unlabeled container to an undercover investigator.

Stutzman said he was surprised when the ODA showed up, but noted it might have been a little too late. He rented nine of his 36 cows to another dairy farmer last week to produce some income.

3/13/2006 9:00:00 PM
Mel Robertson
Lifestyle Editor/Reporter

State and county officials continue to investigate a bacterial outbreak at New Richmond.

"The only thing we know is we had an outbreak," Montgomery County Sanitarian Ron Posthauer said. "Nothing's been confirmed yet. There may be evidence to point in certain directions but it's not responsible to speculate."

In February, the town of New Richmond suffered from an outbreak of campylobacteriosis. More than two cases is considered an outbreak, Posthauer said.

Campylobacteriosis is an infectious bacterial disease, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Web site, www.cdc.gov. Symptoms of the infection include diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within two to five days of being infected, the CDC Web site states. Symptoms typically last about a week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohio Department of Health

Selling and Shipping Raw Dairy Products into Ohio is Illegal

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (March 1, 2006) -- Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey is cautioning consumers to avoid falling prey to direct or deceptive online sales of unpasteurized raw milk products, which are not allowed to be sold or offered for sale in Ohio.

"I strongly urge consumers to drink only milk that has been properly pasteurized at a licensed and inspected facility," said Dailey. "You could be putting yourself or your family at risk by consuming raw milk."