Campylobacter Outbreaks Do Happen in Raw Milk - Organic Pastures
Campylobacter Illnesses Linked to Raw Milk in Michigan and Pennsylvania
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with several state agencies, is alerting consumers to an outbreak of campylobacteriosis associated with drinking raw milk. At least 12 confirmed illnesses have been recently reported in Michigan. Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.
The FDA is collaborating with the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Health Department, to investigate the outbreak. MDCH reports that, as of March 24, 2010, it received reports of 12 confirmed cases of illness from Campylobacter infections in consumers who drank raw milk. The raw milk originated from Forest Grove Dairy in Middlebury, Ind.
The Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture and Health today advised consumers who purchased raw milk from Pasture Maid Creamery in New Castle, Lawrence County, to discard the product immediately because of potential bacterial contamination.
A Department of Agriculture lab found the Campylobacter bacteria in a recent milk sample taken from the dairy as part of a human illness investigation.
Pasture Maid Creamery, owned and operated by Adam Dean, sells directly to consumers who sometimes provide their own bottles. The business is not related to Dean's Dairy in Sharpsville, Mercer County, which produces pasteurized milk for sale in supermarkets. The Agriculture Department recommended that Mr. Dean stop selling raw milk for human consumption. The dairy is providing additional raw milk samples to be tested for bacterial pathogens to determine subsequent action.
Campylobacter Outbreak in Michigan Linked to Consumption of Raw Milk Products
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is issuing a public health alert regarding illness from Campylobacter infections among people who have reported consuming raw milk products obtained from the Family Farms Cooperative in Vandalia, Michigan. Family Farms Cooperative operates a cow share program where members own part of a cow and in return receive raw dairy products. The milk for the Family Farm Cooperative cow share program comes from a dairy farm in Indiana. The plastic containers of raw milk have the following information on a green and white cap: "FOREST GROVE DAIRY, MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA; RAW COW'S MILK, WARNING-NOT PASTEURIZED, 128 FL OZ."
Cow share programs are not inspected or regulated under Michigan law. These products are not available at retail stores.
A total of eight confirmed Campylobacter cases have been reported in Macomb, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. No hospitalizations have been reported to date. Ages of the ill range from 2 to 51 years old and the majority are young children under four years old with onset of illness beginning in early March. The outbreak investigation is ongoing with efforts to determine how widely these unregulated products are being distributed.
"Raw or unpasteurized milk and dairy products may carry many types of disease-causing germs such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. Coli," said Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH. "People need to be aware that raw milk and raw dairy products have not been heat treated or pasteurized to kill germs."
Campylobacter is a bacterial illness causing diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and abdominal cramps 2-5 days after exposure. Illness may persist for 1-2 weeks. Some people require treatment. The elderly, infants, and those with weak immune systems are more likely to have a severe or enduring illness. Persons who are ill with these symptoms and have consumed raw milk recently should consult with their medical provider and ask about being tested for Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter illness is a reportable communicable disease in Michigan.
