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Following an E. coli outbreak in the state of Washington, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is joining with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn the public against drinking raw milk.

Topeka, KS - infoZine - Raw milk is not treated or pasteurized to remove disease-causing bacteria and may cause life-threatening illness. There is also a potential risk of getting rabies from drinking raw milk.

Eight cases of illness have been reported in Washington state to date associated with raw milk containing E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. Several of these cases were in children. Two of the children remain hospitalized. Health authorities have identified locally (Washington) sold raw milk as a source of the outbreak, and have ordered an unlicensed dairy to shut down.

In addition, an advisory was issued from the Oklahoma State Health Department today about a potential rabies exposure from drinking raw, unpasteurized milk or cream sold from a dairy in Claremore, Oklahoma after one of the cows on the farm was confirmed to have rabies.

"Only pasteurized milk should be considered safe to drink," stated Dr. Howard Rodenberg, KDHE Division of Health Director. "There is only marginal difference in nutritional value between raw and pasteurized milk, and certainly not worth the risk of catching a disease."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 300 people in the United States became ill by drinking raw milk or eating cheese made from raw milk in 2001, and nearly 200 became ill from these products in 2002.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include stomach cramps and diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea. People who have developed these symptoms after consuming unpasteurized milk should seek immediate medical attention. E. coli O157:H7 disease sometimes leads to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, possibly leading to death.

Pasteurization is the only effective method for eliminating the bacteria in raw milk and milk products. Pasteurization can also prevent diseases as tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, Q fever, salmonellosis, strep throat, scarlet fever, and typhoid fever.

Federal law requires all milk shipped between states to be pasteurized.

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December 21, 2005
Andy Patrick
AgInfo.netZ

One of the more significant selling points of the segment of agriculture that is dubbed organic, self-sustaining, even alternative, to the consumer is that it claims to offer a more healthy product than goods produced through conventional growing and processing means. But a recent incident in Southwest Washington and one county in Oregon may serve as a warning to consumers that just because a product labels itself as more healthy than its conventional counterpart doesn't necessarily make it gospel truth.

If one were to go to www.localharvest.org, a site that promotes small, sustainable, and organic based agriculture operations across America, and look up "Dee Creek Farm", the following description of the Woodland Washington based operation provided as of January of this year reads like this ... "Our goal is to build an ecologically responsible and self-sustaining farm, using natural methods and humane practices. We are pleased to offer our quality products and services to those who desire an "alternative for a more healthy lifestyle."

Part of Dee Creek's philosophy was extended in the form of providing unpastuerized milk to customers as part of what they call a cow-share program. The cow share program involves consumer purchase of shares in an animal in exchange for a share of the milk produced. However, that practice has come into question after Washington State Department of Agriculture officials and local health officials announced an investigation into an e-coli outbreak.

STOREY: Public health is investigating illness in eighteen individuals.
That includes fifteen children between the ages of one and thirteen for the e-coli infection.

And Marni Storey of the Clark County Washington Public Health Department adds as of Tuesday two of five children hospitalized as a result of e-coli remained in the hospital, and were progressing with their recovery. The owners of Dee Creek Farm previously contended that the outbreak came from another food source. However, W.S.D.A. lab results announced Tuesday seem to indicate otherwise.

STOREY: The Department of Agriculture has informed us that their preliminary laboratory testing of milk samples provided by the shareholders did test positive for e-coli, so those samples will be sent to the Washington State Public Health Laboratory to verify that the strain of e-coli is the same strain that sickened the people who consumed the unpastuerized milk.

How the unpastuerized milk ended up in the food chain is discussed in our next program.

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Wednesday, August 03, 2005
By Carrina Stanton, cstanton@chronline.com

Thousands of visitors will soon flock to the Twin Cities for the Southwest Washington Fair.

And more than likely, more than a few of them will come by the barns to see the Erven family's sheep they raise through the 4-H program.

"That's part of the fair experience, and part of the reason for the exhibit, so kids can see where milk comes from and where produce comes from," said mother Peggy Erven, Salkum.

Interacting with farm animals is as much a part of most people's fair experience as elephant ears and cotton candy. But each year, health organizations warn the public to take steps to make sure the only memento they bring home from animal exhibits is a memory.

Sheep, pigs, horses, goats and many other barnyard dwellers can carry illnesses and bacteria that can be easily transferred to humans. Many of these cross-contaminations reported each year happen at fairs and festivals. More people than normal in contact with the animals is one reason for the heightened risk. The other, Erven noted, is the families who work with the animals are more accustomed to them.

"Farm kids have a different germ tolerance than city kids," Erven said. "I don't think we could make our kids' environment totally antiseptic."

Coming in contact with a sick animal is possible but unlikely at most fairs. Locally, before animals are allowed in the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds barns, they are inspected by a veterinarian for illnesses. Also, those showing the animals take great care in ensuring the livestock they bring do not carry any disease.

"One time we had an animal who had won grand champion at a large show locally and had a good chance of winning supreme at state level, but he was healing (from an illness), so we left him home," Erven said. "You want to be able to trust the other people in the show ring."

What many visitors to the six-day extravaganza do not recognize is contact with perfectly healthy animals can also make them sick.

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes organisms including E. coli 0157-H7, Campylobacter, Salmonella and Cryptosspordium are found in the feces of most livestock, which often contaminates the animals' fur, hair, skin and saliva. If ingested by humans, these bacteria can cause symptoms such as fever, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. The danger is especially high for seniors, children younger than 5, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

Visiting the animals at the fair does not immediately lead to illness, though. The CDC reports many illnesses following trips to animal exhibits result from unsafe practices. Today, most fairs offer hand-washing stations with soap and running water, which are the first and best line of defense.

Erven added she usually keeps a bottle of hand-sanitizing gel with her at all times when her family is on the go. She said parents might consider doing the same when they know there will be animals around, just in case hand-washing stations are not available.

A thorough hand-washing after coming in contact with animals or their environments is especially important before eating. The Southwest Washington Fair does not allow food in the barns, but the CDC notes some festivals still allow a close proximity of food and livestock. Eating while touching animals and their pens is discouraged.

"I watch parents who bring their kids in, and they're eating popcorn and they're mixing events," Erven said. "I think the general public need to be eating in food areas, and they need to bring a little bottle of Purell with them."
ïïï
Carrina Stanton covers municipal government and health for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8241, or by e-mail at cstanton@chronline.com.

Stay healthy at animal exhibits

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list the following recommendations to stay healthy at animal exhibits:
ï Find the nearest hand-washing station and use it after touching animals or their enclosures, and especially before eating and drinking.
ï Consider carrying a bottle of hand-sanitizing gel in case hand-washing stations are unavailable.
ï Keep food and drink out of animal areas.
ï Do not allow children to put hands or other objects in their mouths while interacting with animals.
ï Never share food with animals -- this will keep both you and the animal healthy.
ï Senior citizens, children younger than 5, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems should limit exposure.

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