Campylobacter Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Campylobacter news & outbreaks

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced today that 76 people have now been confirmed to be part of the Your Family Cow dairy Campylobacter outbreak. At least 9 people have been hospitalized due to the severity of their Campylobacter infections.

The new breakdown of illnesses by state is as follows: Pennsylvania (66 illnesses), Maryland (5), West Virginia (3), New Jersey (2).

At least 2 bottles of raw milk sold by the dairy have tested positive for the presence of Campylobacter.

The outbreak of campylobacter that has been linked by health officials to Your Family Cow dairy in Franklin County, Pennsylvania has now risen to 43.  Late last week the number was at 38 confirmed ill.  According to a report the breakdown of illnesses is: 36 people in Pennsylvania, four in Maryland, two in West Virginia, and one in New Jersey.

And while the owners of the farm have issued an apology, it does not appear that they have been deterred from selling unpasteurized milk:

Meanwhile, the state Agriculture Department said the farm passed a final inspection late Monday afternoon and has been cleared to resume production and bottling of raw milk.

The legality of selling unpasteurized milk products varies from state to state.  For further information see www.realrawmilkfacts.com.

Press says as many as 35 sick.

There was more evidence today that an outbreak of campylobacter illnesses was linked to the Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Laboratories Administration has confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in two unopened raw milk samples purchased from this farm.

MDHMH reports that there are now 23 confirmed outbreak-related campylobacteriosis cases: 4 in Maryland and 19 in Pennsylvania, all of whom consumed raw milk from The Family Cow Farm.

Raw milk has been connected in the past to other campylobacter outbreaks, as well as outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7.  For more information on the pros and cons of raw, or unpasteurized milk, see www.realrawmilkfacts.com

State health officials say there has been an increase in the number of people reporting illnesses since consuming raw milk from a Franklin County farm.

The Health Department said Monday that they have now confirmed 12 cases of Campylobacter infection in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Officials are awaiting test results on the raw milk sold by The Family Cow store in Chambersburg, but said all of those sickened bought raw milk from the store.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.

A formal recall has not been announced, but officials have recommended that people throw out any raw milk bought from the store after January 1.

The farm has voluntarily suspended raw milk production.

The New York state departments of Health and Agriculture and Markets warned residents in Tompkins County and surrounding areas not to consume unpasteurized raw milk produced at Jerry Dell Farm, 39 Fall Creek Road, Freeville, because of possible bacterial contamination.

In a press release Thursday, the Department of Health said two people who became ill after consuming raw milk from the farm tested positive for Campylobacter bacteria.

According to the release, the bacterial infection can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and muscle pain. The illness usually occurs two to five days after ingestion and generally lasts for seven to 10 days.

Tests confirmed that milk collected on the date that the first illness was reported, Sept. 22, contained Campylobacter.

The health department reported that raw milk sales at the Jerry Dell Farm will be suspended until tests show that the milk is free of pathogens.