The California Department of Health has released a report detailing the outbreak of shiga toxin-producing E. coli 0157:H7 from raw milk purchased at Organic Pastures dairy in 2011.
Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of the bacteria in stool samples matches bacteria found at the dairy. This particular pattern was unusual because it had not been seen in the state since January 2010. No other risk factors were identified and the patients had no other exposures in common.
In August through October 2011, five children were sickened with E. coli infections. Three of them have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and require dialysis. The children range in age from 1 to 5 years.
Organic Pastures was the source of a 2006 outbreak that sickened six children. And the dairy has recalled other products after Campylobacter and Listeria monocytogenes were discovered in their products.
In 2008, the federal government filed a lawsuit against the dairy to prevent them from shipping raw milk products across state lines.
