Dennis Jaloszyski’s dairy farm near Cambridge, MN has temporarily suspended raw milk sales while state health authorities investigate a Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened at least six people. Anyone who purchased or received raw milk from this farm should not drink it.
During interviews with health officials, patients reported drinking mik from the farm before becoming ill. Three of the cases have been confirmed with lab tests, according to epidemiologists with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Jaloszyski did not keep a customer list, so health officials have issued a consumer advisory.
The retail sale of raw milk is not permitted in Minnesota, but consumers may buy raw milk on the farm where it was produced. Last month, cheese made from raw milk sickened 25 people with Salmonella poisoning.
Campylobacter is a bacteria that is transmitted via the fecal oral route, meaning those who became ill drank milk that contained microscopic amounts of cow feces. Symptoms of a Campylobacter infection, called campylobacteriosis, include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, malaise and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody. abdominal pain, malaise, and vomiting. These symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and last seven days.
In some cases, serious, long-term complications can develop from campylobacteriosis. These include reactive arthritis which causes painful swelling in the joints and Guillain Barré syndrome, which causes sudden onset of paralysis.
